Tourism Under Pressure: Analyzing the Impacts of Climate Change and Over-Tourism on Destinations

Tourism is a vital economic driver for many countries, including Malaysia, where it significantly contributes to GDP, employment, and cultural exchange. However, the rapid expansion of tourism, combined with the escalating impacts of climate change, poses serious threats to the sustainability of tourist destinations in Malaysia. Climate change, manifesting in rising sea levels, extreme weather events, and biodiversity loss, directly affects the natural and cultural assets that attract tourists. Concurrently, over-tourism exacerbates these challenges, leading to environmental degradation, resource depletion, and social conflicts due to the influx of visitors that exceed the carrying capacity of destinations. The aim of this study is to examine the combined impacts of climate change and over-tourism on diverse tourism destinations in Malaysia, including coastal, urban, and highland areas, and to evaluate the current strategies and policies in place to mitigate these impacts. The findings of the study reveal that the intersection of climate change and over-tourism creates a feedback loop, where environmental degradation reduces the quality of the tourist experience and threatens the socio-economic stability of local communities dependent on tourism. This study highlights the need for more integrated management approaches that align sustainable tourism practices with climate adaptation strategies to enhance the resilience of Malaysia’s tourism sector. Furthermore, the research identifies significant gaps in existing knowledge, particularly the need for localized studies that account for the unique geographical, environmental, and socio-cultural characteristics of Malaysian destinations. The findings suggest that comprehensive, context-specific policies are essential to address these dual challenges effectively and ensure the long-term sustainability and resilience of Malaysia’s tourism industry.