More villages for homestay programme

KOTA KINABALU: The State Government wants to identify more villages that can be involved in the homestay programme.

Tourism, Culture and Environment Minister, Datuk Masidi Manjun said that as of to date, there are only 186 homestay operators in Sabah.

“We are still lagging behind in terms of participation in the homestay programme,” he said in his speech at the launch of the ‘Home Stay Development Seminar in Sabah’s Tourism Sector: Prospects and Challenges for Bumiputra Women Entrepreneurs” held at a hotel here yesterday.

The speech was read by the ministry’s assistant minister, Datuk Karim Bujang.

In Malaysia, there are 1,583 homestay operators, with Sabah being the second highest in terms of participation.

In view of Sabah richness in nature, Sabah should be the example of other States in the country where homestay programme is concerned, he said.

“We have everything. We are rich in natural resources which itself is an attraction to tourists. We also have an environment which is suited for eco-tourism.

“We have various products that can be placed to attract tourists and are capable of generating the State’s economy,” he said.

In addition, Sabah also has other attractions that are not found elsewhere such as the Mt. Kinabalu, Pulau Sipadan and Pulau Ligitan. It is also home to the proboscis monkeys, pygmy elephants and Rafflesia, and is rich with the culture and traditions of its diverse ethnic communities.

He added that the government aspires to expand the homestay programme up to the point when it can help ease the 6,000 rooms shortage currently experienced in the State and allow the participants to get a share of the RM3 billion tourism expenditure. He then urged villages that are rich with the community traditions to take proactive steps on the two million tourists that come into Sabah.

“The unique tradition and culture must be promoted,” he stressed.

He added that the homestay programme could be used to showcase the uniqueness of the local traditions and that such moves will subsequently increase the State’s tourism products and make it more attractive to tourists.

However, the operators must also give serious attention on matters related to cleanliness and landscape, he said.

“The villages’ landscape must be clean, and is complemented by the cheery demeanour of the hosts of the homestay programme,” he said.

Masidi also said that women have an important role in ensuring the success of the homestay programme.

“The women have to take care of all routine household duties which include cleaning and cooking.

“They must be creative to create the curiosity among the tourists in the cultures practised by the household members such as the type of food consumed, musical instruments and traditional dances, sports and handicrafts,” he said.

He added that the women could also make their homestay more attractive by showcasing the local culture in the types of food served and even in the types of house decorations used.

Masidi said that the whole villagers must cooperate to ensure the success of a homestay programme as well as conduct local activities that require the participation of the tourists.

Among the activities cited are the planting of vegetables, catching fish using nets, weaving mats and so on.

Meanwhile, Sabah is targeting 2.3 million tourists’ arrival during the Visit Malaysia Year.

Masidi said that the target is realistic and is achievable.

He also said that as of June, 2007, a total of 1.7 million tourists have arrived to Sabah and that this total is already more than half of what it is targeting.

“We believe that the tourists’ arrival will be increasing over time,” he said.

And due to this confidence, he said that the State and Federal Governments are making huge plans and spending a huge chunk of its allocation on developing and upgrading of various tourism support infrastructures in Sabah.

During the Ninth Malaysia Plan (9MP) for instance, the government has allocated RM2.4 billion for the development of tourism related infrastructures, which includes the upgrading works at Kota Kinabalu International Airport (KKIA), the installation of new tracks for the State Railway Department and the construction of roads leading to key tourism destinations throughout Sabah.

There are also proposals to upgrade several tourism centres as geopark to allow the local communities garner some economic impact from the tourism activities.

During the event, Karim also launched the Mitabang Homestay programme website.

Also present at the event was Sabah Homestay Association Sabah president, Joanna Kitingan.