Tourism Ministry to continue support after homestays raked in RM715,000 last year

With Sarawak's homestay industry being listed among the top five in Malaysia, the Tourism Ministry has been convinced to continue its investments in the state.The Ministry's development division undersecretary Azmy Mohd Ali said the 23 registered homestays in Sarawak raked in an income of RM715,000 last year.

He said that tourists picked Sarawak and Sabah as the most popular destinations for homestay vacationing given the states flora, fauna and ethnic cultures.Our records show that the registered homestays have proven themselves as capable, he told reporters after visiting the Santubong Homestay in Kampung Santubong here yesterday.

Santubong MP Datuk Wan Junaidi Tuanku Jaafar led a delegation from the ministry on the visit.According to Azmy, the ministry had approved more than RM5mil for 20 facility upgrade projects in some of the state's homestays this year.He said the homestays would be assisted on a priority basis.

Besides Santubong, the state's registered homestays included Anah Rais, Telaga Air, Mongkos, Melayu Tebakang, Telok Melano and Bawang Assan.This year, the Anah Rais homestay raked in the highest returns while last year it was Santubong.

The visit saw the ministry approving RM770,000 for upgrading the facility in Santubong.The upgrading, to begin immediately,would encompass a plant nursery to support an eco-friendly environment, landscaping, stalls selling souvenirs, signs, toilets, community hall and village roads.

Earlier, Junaidi called on the villagers to cooperate with each other to keep up efforts to improve the homestay business in Santubong.The Government is always ready to assist, but it can only do so much. You need to be more proactive to make it work, he added.

Source = thestar.com.my