KUALA LUMPUR: The homestay industry through the implementation of the Malaysia Homestay Experience Programme in Sarawak generated more than RM1.2 million last year with participation of nearly 9,700 visitors.
Tourism, Arts and Culture Minister Datuk Seri Nancy Shukri said the turnover for the programme benefited 676 homestay operators in 50 villages registered under the ministry.
The industry generated in excess of RM4 million in 2018 and 2019 before the outbreak of Covid-19.
“Insya-Allah (God willing), with the reopening of domestic tourism activities and interstate travel allowed now, we hope these homestay operators will get better incomes,” she said in the Dewan Rakyat on Thursday (Oct 28).
She was replying to a question from Mordi Bimol (PH-Mas Gading) regarding her ministry’s plans to stimulate the ecotourism sector, specifically in Sarawak, during the Question-and- Answer session.
Nancy said several ecotourism clusters in Sarawak with potential to be developed had been identified with Lundu, Sematan, Telok Melano, Tanjong Datu , Bako, Santubong, Kubah, Semenggoh, Bau and Padawan included in them (clusters).
She added that the ecotourism segment was among the main focus of her ministry especially in stimulating domestic tourism in line with the National Ecotourism Plan (NEP) (2.0) 2020-2030. – Bernama
