KUCHING: Homestay operators are working on offering a more unique experience to today’s more discerning tourists.
Tourists nowadays prefer something innovative, get value for their money and a different but local experience.
Tourism, Arts and Culture (Motac) Datuk Seri Nancy Shukri said improvements had therefore be made to the Malaysia Homestay Experience Programme Guideline to keep abreast with current tourism needs.
She said this during the official launch of the Malaysia Homestay Experience Programme Guideline at Pullman Hotel Kuching on Saturday (Nov 27).
“The current trend among the tourists is that they are into visiting places that have ecotourism activities, eating at the accommodation premises, buying signature products directly from the products’ owner, and hoping to receive personalised services.
“Having this in mind, registered homestay participants are very focused on offering something different and unique to the tourists,” she said.
Hence, Motac in collaboration with the Malaysian Homestay Entrepreneurs Organisation (PPHM), Kampungstay and Homestay Association Malaysia (MKHA), Homestay Cluster coordinators and various relevant government agencies has made improvements to the programme guidelines, shhe explained.
Nancy added that the ministry was expanding participation to individuals interested in a registered Homestay and also created categories for Homestays and Kampungstays such as Innovative Kampungstay, Chalet Kampungstay, Guest Kampungstay and so on.
“On top of that, we have also expanded the radius limit for cluster or individual registration as an entrepreneur to 10 kilometers in Peninsular Malaysia and 50 kilometers for Sabah and Sarawak while the minimum cluster registration limit has been reduced from 10 to five for Sabah, Sarawak and Labuan.” she added.
