Homestay Issues in Malaysia
HOMESTAY OUR 2010 MAIN PRODUCT: MINISTRY by Geryl Ogilvy Ruekeith. Posted on January 29, 2010, Friday
KUCHING: The Ministry of Tourism’s state office is targeting to make the Homestay business the main product for the Sarawak Tourism market in 2010 for its uniqueness and vastly increasing performance in revenue.The ministry’s state director Ahmad Johanif Mohd Ali said the Homestay business has the potential to complement almost all of the tourism marketing packages that the state has to offer.
“Sarawak’s main tourism strength is obviously the cultural, nature and adventure aspect. Along with the agro and eco-tourism that Tourism Malaysia is campaigning nationwide, Homestay business is definitely the front runner as a tourism marketing tool in the accommodation factor.
“The state is very rich in culture, for example, the Gawai Dayak celebration and the longhouses. These are things that only Sarawak can offer. It is our strength and now is the time for every player to step up his game in capitalising on this strength and enhance our niche product,” Ahmad added.
Speaking at the ministry’s Sarawak office’s ‘Briefing Session to Tourism Industry Players’ at the Grand Margherita Hotel yesterday, Ahmad suggested giving emphasis to promoting Homestay as the main attraction and selling point.
He said the performance of the Homestay business is very encouraging as in 2009, the income of RM455,430 in revenue received is an increased of RM41,607 from the RM413,823 recorded in 2008.
Ahmad said Kampung Santubong Homestay generated the most income last year with a total of RM137,070 generated.
Kampung Annah Rais came second with RM75,566.
Although the volume of tourist dropped compared to the previous year, he said that the revenue increased due to the amount of tourist spending and this is what the state is promoting — Quality Tourism.
On the state tourist target for 2010, he also highlighted that the ministry is seriously targeting about 3.6 million international
KUCHING: The Ministry of Tourism’s state office is targeting to make the Homestay business the main product for the Sarawak Tourism market in 2010 for its uniqueness and vastly increasing performance in revenue.The ministry’s state director Ahmad Johanif Mohd Ali said the Homestay business has the potential to complement almost all of the tourism marketing packages that the state has to offer.
“Sarawak’s main tourism strength is obviously the cultural, nature and adventure aspect. Along with the agro and eco-tourism that Tourism Malaysia is campaigning nationwide, Homestay business is definitely the front runner as a tourism marketing tool in the accommodation factor.
“The state is very rich in culture, for example, the Gawai Dayak celebration and the longhouses. These are things that only Sarawak can offer. It is our strength and now is the time for every player to step up his game in capitalising on this strength and enhance our niche product,” Ahmad added.
Speaking at the ministry’s Sarawak office’s ‘Briefing Session to Tourism Industry Players’ at the Grand Margherita Hotel yesterday, Ahmad suggested giving emphasis to promoting Homestay as the main attraction and selling point.
He said the performance of the Homestay business is very encouraging as in 2009, the income of RM455,430 in revenue received is an increased of RM41,607 from the RM413,823 recorded in 2008.
Ahmad said Kampung Santubong Homestay generated the most income last year with a total of RM137,070 generated.
Kampung Annah Rais came second with RM75,566.
Although the volume of tourist dropped compared to the previous year, he said that the revenue increased due to the amount of tourist spending and this is what the state is promoting — Quality Tourism.
On the state tourist target for 2010, he also highlighted that the ministry is seriously targeting about 3.6 million international