This page is being updated for our grants opening in June 2023. We are working our quickest to get it up and running. Be sure to come back!
Submission Closed
Submission of Concept Proposal
Application for the THF 2022 Sustainable Tourism Grant is now closed. Next opening will be announced in June 2023. For more enquiries, please email us at thf@habitatfoundation.org.my
The Habitat Foundation Sustainable Tourism Grants have been created to fund initiatives to build capacity and strengthen the practice of ecotourism and conservation in Malaysia. This grants programme is motivated by the belief that travel to natural areas can be a driver for conservation and environmental awareness.
Ecotourism can also be a way to generate sustainable financing for protecting nature and incomes for local businesses and households. However, for this objective to be achieved, we need to do better.
Proposal should be coherent with current government policies, plans, strategies and laws. Proposals should ideally demonstrate a strong element of collaboration with key stakeholders in order to ensure the sustainability of project objectives.Â
The Sustainable Tourism Grants are for activities or programmes to promote Best Practice in ecotourism that can be implemented within a timeframe of less than 10 months. They range in value from RM5,000 to RM15,000 and may be used for any of the following:-
- on site training and capacity building to improving guiding, the curation of ecotourism experiences, and protection of sensitive environments;
- attending off-site training or to gain specialized qualifications to gain capacity in ecotourism management;
- improving interpretation on site to enhance the visitor experience and education objective;
- providing information, education, and training to reduce environmental impact among local people and tourists alike;
- participating in study visits and facilitating secondments to enhance Best Practice in ecotourism from more-established ecotourism businesses and organizations;
- enhancing the use of communications tools to promote poorly known ecotourism sites to strengthen viability and generate funding for conservation.
- any other initiative, programme, or activity to boost capacity with proper justification.
Eligibility
- Applications for Sustainable Tourism Grants may be made by individuals, businesses, non-government organizations, and community-based organizations.
Featured Projects
Our Water, Our Duty – World Water Day 2023 Short Clip
Meet a community that is doing its part to protect the forest and its ecosystem services on World Water Day.
Forest Research Institute Malaysia (FRIM) was awarded a Sustainable Tourism Grant for their initiative, which is assisting in the development of a new generation of local stewards in Kampung Janda Baik. Persatuan Sahabat alam tampik Janda Baik (SATJB) maintains the sustainable use of the 30-hectare area within Lentang Forest Reserve and provides exclusive informative tours. Visits to the energising waters of Ulu Tampik Waterfall are now opportunities to learn about and interact with nature.
We believe that more community guardians can be similarly enabled to enjoy nature while protecting it for future generations.
Click here to view the short video on Facebook or Instagram.
HUGS Project in Safeguarding Our Caves in Merapoh
The Habitat Foundation Sustainable Tourism Grants are about supporting community-based tourism because it also strengthens conservation. HUGS Project received a grant in 2021 to organise specialised workshops for local cave guides from the remarkable limestone landscape of Merapoh, Pahang.
Read More “HUGS Project in Safeguarding Our Caves in Merapoh”
Fuze Ecoteer: Leading Sustainable Tourism in Marine Environments
Fuze Ecoteer Outdoor Adventures is a Malaysian registered tour operator with experience in conservation and research. It is recognised as a social enterprise that focuses on marine conservation projects.
Read More “Fuze Ecoteer: Leading Sustainable Tourism in Marine Environments”
Empowering the Next Generation of Community Leaders
It is no mistake that two of the 2021 Sustainable Tourism Grants are to empower initiatives being spearheaded by young people who are conservation leaders and represent the next generation of decision makers.
Read More “Empowering the Next Generation of Community Leaders”
Investing in Building Local Capacity for Sustainable Tourism
The Habitat Foundation Sustainable Tourism Grants have been created to strengthen the links between ecotourism and conservation. It is no surprise, therefore, that two of these grants are investing in capacity building for local communities.
Read More “Investing in Building Local Capacity for Sustainable Tourism”