KUCHING: The people of Santubong near here were Sunday night urged to grab the opportunities available to them with the Santubong Homestay drawing tourists to their village.

HOMESTAY ATTRACTION: Junaidi lights up an oil lamp  along the path to the Santubong Homestay upon his arrival. Seen at left is Feona.

"The products of tourism outside the homestay will be in the hands of the people in the surrounding areas," said Santubong Member of Parliament Datuk Wan Junaidi Tuanku Jaafar.

"The homestay will help locals, but they must take the initiative. What else can you offer to tourists?"

He was speaking at the Hari Raya Aidilfitri 2009 dinner held in connection with the Mega Familiarisation Programme 'Heart 2 Heart Sarawak' at Santubong Homestay.

Junaidi, who is Deputy Speaker of Parliament, said the local people could produce their own products to be sold to tourists.

"They must also take the opportunity to see what else they can do," he added.

He told homestay operators to maintain their premises and facilities at least up to the minimum standards set by the Ministry of Tourism.

At the same time, Junaidi advised them against going overboard.

"Don't make your homestay or facilities too modern because tourists want to see how the locals live," he said.

"But we must upgrade the standard of cleanliness, health and everything else so that it will be acceptable when they come."

A homestay is an alternative to hotels and an excellent option to those on a budget.

Junaidi asked the Ministry of Tourism to help promote Sarawak more.

"We have not informed the whole world how beautiful Santubong is. Tell the world what we have to offer. Not just Santubong, but the whole of Sarawak. We have much to offer tourists and much history to tell."

Junaidi's wife Datin Feona Abdullah, assistant director of Tourism Malaysia (Sarawak) Abdul Halim Saruji and Santubong Homestay chairperson Jamilah Shukri were among those present.

Santubong Homestay is playing host to a total of 17 tour agents and journalists from Korea and India during the one-week programme, which runs from Sept 25 to Oct 2.

The homestay programme in Malaysia was launched in 1995 in Temerloh, Pahang.

Since then, villages in other states have caught on to the concept of hosting tourists in their kampung houses.

Today, there is a choice of villages offering the homestay experience in every state.

(Taken from The Borneo Post - 29 September 2009)

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