Protecting the Perhentian Islands’ marine life through hosting
Protecting the Perhentian Islands’ marine life through hosting
Hayati & Amer | The Resthouse, the Perhentian Islands
On the Perhentian Islands, a colonial-era home has been reborn as The Resthouse. It is now a fully solar-powered sanctuary where architecture, conservation, and human connection converge.Stewarded by Hayati, a visual artist and conservationist, and Amer, a Syrian refugee-turned-diver, the Airbnb listing champions sustainability and community-led tourism in a way that safeguards both people and the environment.
Embedding conservation at the heart of hosting
Embedding conservation at the heart of hosting
At The Resthouse, every stay plays a small but real part in caring for the environment, especially marine life. Guests learn how their visit contributes to conservation by joining beach clean-ups, removing ghost nets while diving, and joining turtle patrols along the islands' coasts.Hayati and Amer work closely with local partners such as the Perhentian Marine Research Station, PULIHARA, and dive centre Cosmic Divers to expand these efforts. Together, they strengthen turtle protection around the Perhentian and Lang Tengah islands. What begins as a simple stay ends as a shared act of preservation, demonstrating how mindful travel can help with conservation efforts.
I never got to see the reef the way the older divers described it; they were full of life and colour. But I want my children to. That’s why I do this work. — Amer
A local effort with global significance
A local effort with global significance
For over a decade, Hayati has led turtle conservation along her beach to protect endangered green sea turtles, ensuring eggs hatch safely before returning to the sea. Together with local and international volunteers, she has helped hundreds of hatchlings make that journey, contributing to Malaysia’s marine biodiversity success story.Each stay at The Resthouse helps fund conservation efforts including beach patrols and other daily operations to protect marine life. Proceeds also support community-made merchandise and souvenirs, such as turtle bracelets crafted from coconut shells and recycled materials.
To know that the green sea turtle’s conservation status has moved from Endangered to Least Concern, and to have played even a small part in that — it reminds us that there is always hope. — Hayati
To know that the green sea turtle’s conservation status has moved from Endangered to Least Concern, and to have played even a small part in that — it reminds us that there is always hope. — Hayati
Tourism that uplifts communities
Hayati believes sustainable tourism must also sustain people. That’s why The Resthouse works closely with the local community like Kak Mah, who supports the homestay with laundry and daily housekeeping, other small-scale entrepreneurs, and refugee chefs, ensuring that every guest experience supports livelihoods on the Perhentian Islands.Amer’s journey is central to that mission. Once a refugee child seeking safety, he’s now a co-host, diver, and steward of the sea, gaining skills and purpose while helping preserve Malaysia’s natural heritage.
Hayati believes sustainable tourism must also sustain people. That’s why The Resthouse works closely with the local community like Kak Mah, who supports the homestay with laundry and daily housekeeping, other small-scale entrepreneurs, and refugee chefs, ensuring that every guest experience supports livelihoods on the Perhentian Islands.Amer’s journey is central to that mission. Once a refugee child seeking safety, he’s now a co-host, diver, and steward of the sea, gaining skills and purpose while helping preserve Malaysia’s natural heritage.
Kak Mah has been with us since the beginning. She used to take laundry in plastic bags, but now she carries her big reusable cloth bags everywhere and she’s proud of them. The whole village noticed. Changes like that may seem small, but it’s how sustainability takes root. — Hayati
Kak Mah has been with us since the beginning. She used to take laundry in plastic bags, but now she carries her big reusable cloth bags everywhere and she’s proud of them. The whole village noticed. Changes like that may seem small, but it’s how sustainability takes root. — Hayati
I came here when I was 11 years old, leaving my country because of war. Life has been rough at times, but I consider myself very fortunate to have found opportunities such as my involvement with The Resthouse.Hayati’s passion was simple yet powerful: she wanted to preserve the environment, to protect the reef, and to run a place that reflected those values. That mission resonated with me deeply, and it’s why I chose to stand alongside her. — Amer
For Hayati, the future of conservation depends on people and their creativity, compassion, and courage to start, no matter how small the act. She believes that progress begins with individuals who choose to care within their own capacity, and that collective change grows from these simple, personal beginnings.That sense of hope drives everything she does at The Resthouse, nurturing an environment where guests and locals alike can see that sustainability is not a trend but a responsibility. It’s a quiet conviction that care, passed from one person to another, can build a legacy.
Sustainability isn’t only about saving the planet. It’s also about giving people the chance to grow with it. — Hayati
Sustainability isn’t only about saving the planet. It’s also about giving people the chance to grow with it. — Hayati
A blueprint for Malaysia’s sustainable tourism future
A blueprint for Malaysia’ssustainable tourism future
Through their work at the Perhentian Islands and their Airbnb property, Hayati and Amer demonstrate how local hosts can advance Malaysia’s environmental goals such as protecting biodiversity, reducing waste, and empowering island communities. At The Resthouse, every act of hospitality doubles as an act of conservation. Through their passion and perseverance, Hayati and Amer are showing the world that sustainable tourism is Malaysia’s legacy in motion.
