HOMESTAY INITIATIVE BY MALAYSIA TOURISM BOARD

Malaysia's friendly traditional communities have opened up their homes to foreign guests so they can have a taste of the kampung or village lifestyle to cherish for a lifetime. Experiencing a homestay in a traditional village is perhaps one of the fastest and easiest ways to get to know the real Malaysia.

You will discover that things here move at a slightly slower pace than in the city, and for those who relish the quiet calm of the rustic life, this is possibly as good as it gets. Homestay guests will not just be immersed in the lifestyle of the locals; they will also quickly establish a bond with their warm and welcoming families who will treat them like family.

Visitors will experience the full spectrum of village life. Home-cooking lessons and meal times will surely be a memorable part of your stay. The wide variety and sumptuousness of painstakingly prepared dishes can sometimes be enough to confuse most people! Guests will learn how to prepare the food. This might include gathering, cooking and washing it as well.

The lucky few will also have the opportunity to harvest fruits that are in season or try their skill at plucking coconuts out of palm trees 30-40 ft. above the ground with a bamboo pole! Spend time with the children after they return from school and indulge in traditonal games that are still popular, such as kite flying, top-spinning, and congkak. Or you can choose to explore your surroundings, spend some time at the local pond, trying your hand at riverside fishing or perhaps indulge in a spot of farming a la Malaysia. In the evenings, you'll enjoy cultural dances, musical performances and even a mock-wedding, all of which you will be encouraged to participate in.

Experience the charm of Malay traditions that have been preserved throughout the ages, which remain very much alive. Live with your hosts, eat with them, be a part of their family. And when you return home, take with you a memorable cultural experience, and the friendships of a family happy to welcome you whenever you return to Malaysia! The amenities in Malaysian villages offer basic comforts. Electricity and running water are available all over Malaysia, while all these villages are connected to big cities via modern highways and public transport.

The kampungs, or villages, that are involved in the homestay programme are committed to ensuring that you experience village-style living first-hand. and are used to welcoming a variety of foreign guests from around the world. These kampungs have been carefully selected and conform with strict guidelines set by the Ministry of Tourism so as to bring out the best of Malaysia.

Source: Malaysia Tourism Board

Homestay Accommodation Required

Wests Tigers (a Rugby Club) are seeking expressions of interest for providing family style accommodation for talented young footballers as part of the club’s Homestay Program.

The Club is looking to billet players aged 17-19 in the suburbs of Concord and surrounding areas as well as Campbelltown area.
The players will join Wests Tigers for the 2012 season.

It is important that these young players are placed in the right environment to give them every opportunity to develop as Rugby League players and citizens, whilst furthering their education and employment opportunities.

Wests Tigers seek your interest if you are in a position to help. Benefits include:
• $185 per week full board
• Two (2) passes to all Wests Tigers away games
• Two (2) seats to all Wests Tigers home games
• $50 Wests Tigers merchandise voucher
• Two (2) tickets to NRL Grand Final

'Home stay' to convert into village tourism

   

  

KATHMANDU: The Kathmandu Research Centre on Sunday has said that rural tourism sector should not be confined to 'Home stay' alone, as it can make important contribution in economic development of the country.

Speaking at a press meet organized here today by the Centre, Chairman of the Centre and Pioneer of the village tourism Dr Surendra Bhakta Pradhananga mentioned that 'home stay' is only a part of the village tourism.

He added that this concept should be forwarded being based on norms and values of the country.

Pradhananga further added village tourism is aimed at producing more with less investment, and claimed that village tourism could be the main basis of social and economic development of the country.

Mentioning that tourism industries have contributed 17.11pc in the gross domestic products of the country, he added that it will contribute up to 42 pc in it in the upcoming days.

Tourism expert Rajendra Bantawa said the concept of the village tourism has been included in the ninth five-year-plan, and informed that Rs 4 million has been allocated for the development of village tourism in the Himalayan, hilly, and Tarai regions. 

Source: The Himalayan Times.

Homestay in rustic Bario

HOME away from home aptly describes Leminan Lodge, a homestay in Bario.

HUSBAND-AND-WIFE TEAM: Shep and Rita Bala.

It offers guests the comfort and privacy of home in the midst of the rustic Kelabit highlands.

Perfect for guests who are less adventurous, the Lodge provides them the feel of home – at the same time, adventure at its doorstep. It also gives them the feel of space and privacy as it does not have the ‘commonness’ of a longhouse-styled homestay.

The interior of the Lodge is styled after that of a mountain cabin; the warm  hue of the wooden panelling on the wall exudes coziness that provides guests a comforting respite from the nippy highland temperature at night.

During the day when the sun is high and the temperature turns warmer, the huge sliding windows allow the cool highland breeze to waft through creating a prefect environment for a midday snooze.

The three-storey homestay is modelled after the Dutch architecture with an attic converted into a bedroom typical of that of a Swiss loft. The cozy loft is for sale, according to Shep Bala, owner of the homestay, but only upon request.

The first floor consists of a living room, kitchen and dining room while the second floor has bedrooms, a sitting room with a panoramic view of the highlands, a village centre and a wash and bath room.

Two bedrooms have the luxury of a veranda that overlooks to the rustic backdrop of Bario while all the rooms have splendid view of Nature.

Only a stone’s throw from the village centre, the Lodge has the best of both worlds – it’s within minutes from the hustle and bustle of civilisation, at the same time, far enough to enjoy the peace and tranquillity of the highlands. It’s less than 10 minutes from the airport.

The homestay has a total of seven bedrooms of which six are triple  bedded while one is double bedded.

Guests have the privilege to savour the best of Kelabit cuisine with Rita, Shep’s wife, behind the stove. With her cooking, guests can be assured of a satisfying meal everytime.

For only RM85 per person, the package includes breakfast, lunch and dinner as well as transportation from and to the airport.

THE INTERIOR: The spacious Laminan Lodge.

Bario is far from being boring. It is  heavenly for those who love the great outdoors and natural attractions.

Shep has come out with six packages that allow visitors to see these attractions and enjoy the idyllic scenery.

Allowing visitors to see the making of the famed Kelabit Natural Salt at the Salt Lake is the two-day-one-night stay package while two packages with similar length of stay – three days one night – guide guests on a tour of Bario and trek to Ba Kelalan.

Those who wish to trek to Mount Murut can take the four-day-three-night stay. For a visit to the Salt Lake in Pa’ Main, take the two-day-one-night stay and finally those who want to see the highest waterfall in the Kelabit highlands should go for the six-day-five night stay.

Source: Borneo Post Online.

Homestay Sungai Petani: Malaysia Sees Homestay Growth In Australia

Homestay Sungai Petani: Malaysia Sees Homestay Growth In Australia

Malaysia Sees Homestay Growth In Australia

Malaysia Sees Homestay Growth In Australia

By Neville D'Cruz

MELBOURNE, Nov 9 (Bernama) -- Deputy Tourism Minister Datuk Dr James Dawos Mamit says the Malaysian homestay market has not reached its potential among Australians and there is significant opportunity for growth with more promotion and product development.

"Australians are showing increasing interest in immersive tourism experiences that allow for an authentic cultural interaction and our homestay products in Malaysia offer this," he said at the four-day 2011 Global Eco Conference which began in Sydney on Monday.

"We have also noticed that homestay products which are near a national park and include nature-based experiences are proving most popular, particularly with Australians," Dr Mamit said, adding: "We want to facilitate the development of these types of products to create a `community-based ecotourism' offering."

Of the 2,000 Australians who tried the homestay programme last year, 50 per cent went to Sabah.

Dr Mamit said to increase homestays' appeal, Tourism Malaysia plans to forge strategic alliances between homestay providers and reputable ecotourism operators so that more homestays include nature-based activities and ecotourism experiences.

The Deputy Minister said Tourism Malayia is also developing stand-alone community-based ecotourism destinations to help local communities create tourism products showcasing the local environment.

Three such products have been created recently in partnership with communities in Sarawak, he said.

"Some mass tourism operators lay claim to the ecotourism label but do not necessarily ensure that the environment is protected.

"By encouraging ecotourism activities that are community run we can ensure that local communities directly benefit from the environment and are therefore stimulated to protect it," Dr Mamit said.

He said last year the homestay programme attracted more than 45,000 foreigners, and has been popular with Japanese, Koreans and Singaporeans.

-- BERNAMA

Homestay programme at Bidayuh Muslim village a big hit

by Johnson K Saai. Posted on November 8, 2011, Tuesday

FOR THE ALBUM: Aaron (standing sixth left) in a group photograph with the longhouse folk.

KUCHING: The Kampung Darul Islam Belimbing homestay programme received around 3,000 visitors so far and this was a good sign, the village homestay project secretary Musa Mohd Syaid revealed yesterday.

Without providing statistics, he said the volume of visitors had been growing annually since it was launched in 2008.

“One interesting thing is when those who come to experience our homestay programme are not only locals but also foreigners, including those from European countries,” he said.

Met during the slaughtering and distribution of sacrificial cows at Kampung Darul Islam Belimbing, one of the few Bidayuh Muslim settlements in Padawan, Musa told The Borneo Post that as of now 22 families in the village were participating in the homestay programme.

“This homestay programme is one of the socio-economic activities introduced by Felcra Bhd to participants of its oil palm plantation project within the Belimbing area.

“In fact, Felcra is not just bringing in oil palm but many other socio-economic activities as well, and homestay is just part of it,” he added.

Meanwhile, Felcra Belimbing oil palm area manager Mohd Yusof Mansor said the acreage of the plantation under Belimbing still remained at 2,300 hectares.

He said the there was no way to expand the acreage due to an unsuitable geographical factor.

“Expansion is impossible in view of the land condition, where most of the areas are very steep and to develop such areas requires very big cost.  The land is just not suitable,” he pointed out.

He said that Felcra Belimbing was developed since 1996 with nine projects and began production four years later.

It involves 1,031 participants from six villages namely Kampung Gayu, Subang, Timurang, Belimbing (three projects), Semeru and Anah Rayang.

According to Felcra Sarawak Region social executive Mohd Anuar Hanip, the main objective of Felcra was to uplift the living standard of the society, especially those participating in its projects.

“Among them is providing easy loan to interested participants for them to venture in other small scale businesses such as poultry breeding and farming which is interest free,” he explained.

Resource: Borneo Post Online.

Exchange opportunity

03 Nov, 2011 04:53 PM

A group of 18 young Indonesians will visit Kangaroo Island from Saturday November 19 to Wednesday 14 December to experience Australia’s culture and way of life.They’ll spend three and a half weeks in homestay, work placements and a range of cultural performance activities as part of the Australia-Indonesia Youth Exchange Program.
Kangaroo Island Community Education is co-ordinating the exchange, supported by the local office of Regional Development Australia and Kangaroo Island Council.
“The visiting group of nine women and nine men, mainly university students, aged 21 to 25, has been selected from across Indonesia. They have beckoning futures in the arts and media, industry, business, agriculture and government and in other fields such as education, health and medicine, the environment, and social and community development,” KICE co-ordinator Kris Hondow said.
“Their host families on KI will gain an insight into the culture, customs and attitudes of our nearest neighbour while helping to promote the bilateral relationship on a personal level.”
Each host family will be paid a weekly subsidy of $200, additional to the Indonesian participants receiving a basic living allowance.
In line with their professional and vocational interests, the young Indonesians, who have basic or good English competency, will undertake work experience placements from Tuesday to Friday each week of their homestay. “They’ll also give highly entertaining weekly cultural performances to schools, universities and interested community bodies during their time on the island,” Ms Hondow said.
The participants have health and police clearances, and are fully insured for the exchange.
Founded in 1981, the exchange rotates annually between Australian States and Territories and different provinces of Indonesia, and was last held in SA in 2004. It’s lauded for enabling young people to appreciate the culture as well as the development and aspirations of each other’s country.
If you are interested in having a student for the Homestay experience please contact Kingscote Campus, Ian Kent or Kris Hondow.

Source: The Islander

New travellers, new expectations

Wednesday, 2 November 2011

Tourism Malaysia marketing manager Aliastair Manihera with Wendy and Balljid Left, Fieldskills Adventure director Simon Amos with lucky prizewinner Left, Sabah Homestay Assosciation president Jeffry Cobra with lucky prizewinner Travellers today have a whole new set of demands and expectations that the tourism industry needs to be aware of and keep up with, according to Tourism Malaysia. Speaking at the Tourism Malaysia Adventure Backpacker cocktail seminar this week marketing manager Alastair Manihera explained that travellers are now looking for the “next avenue, that next aspect to capture their imagination”. Talking to a room of travel agents Mr Manihera introduced the travel industry to various offerings Malaysia has on hand that cater to the new traveller and suggested agents look to modern and adventurous companies including Fieldskills Adventure and Sabah Homestay Association when booking trips for their clients. “We have brought these two companies as they offer experiences that take you out of your comfort zones and allow you to experience something you can take with you for the rest of your life,” Mr Manihera said. Fieldskills Adventure offers thrill seeker travellers, families, school groups and team building groups an opportunity for adventure travel in Sabah, Malaysian Borneo. Fieldskills Adventure director Simon Amos and his team specialise in mountain biking, jungle trekking, camping, kayaking, white water rafting, to name a few, the adventure company also offers low impact activities and caters for both large and small tour groups. “It’s a great experience for everyone, we take a lot of families we even had a three year old, we set up a tent for the child as most people stay in hammocks,” Mr Amos said. “It’s a popular place for team building activities and school groups.” Mr Amos added Sabah is a fantastic rock climbing destination everything from simple children’s climbs to the more adventurous 150 meters high climbs, which he added, has sparked a lot of interest as it has not yet been climbed. “Rock climbing is the new thing to do in Sabah,” he explained.  While, Sabah Homestay Association president Mr Jeffry Cobra, offers travellers a unique chance to stay among local families and be a part of their culture and daily routine in clean, modest accommodations. “From Mt Kinabalu to the depths of its oceans, travellers get to experience many of the different lifestyles and culture of the local communities,” Mr Cobra said. Mr Cobra explained how each one of the many different ethnic groups offers its own specialty including wildlife, jungles, historical sites, native festivals and cultural traditions to name a few. Tourism Malaysia, Director Mr. Shahrin Mokhtar added no trip to Malaysia is complete without experiencing six unique activities to the country; tasting rice wine while visiting a longhouse, joining a head hunter trail, a trip to the Pinnacles and bat watching in the Mulu National park, visiting the orang-utans and enjoying live music at the annual Rainforest World Music Festival all made the list. The cocktail party was on the back of Tourism Malaysia’s successful Adventure Travel and Backpacker Expo.

Source = e-Travel Blackboard: S.P

Salang: Offer unique homestay package

SARIKEI: Homestay operators in the state have been urged to be more sensitive to market needs, especially in creating packages and unique tourism products to attract more tourists.

Deputy Minister of Information, Communication and Culture Datuk Joseph Salang told operators in the rural areas that their daily activities like pepper farming, rubber tapping, planting and harvesting of paddy, poultry or animal rearing and fish catching could be an attractive package that they could offer.

He said they could also include cultural activities like learning traditional dances, cooking and songs.

“I am sure if you can have the activities in your package, you will be able to attract more tourists,” he said at the National Homestay Certificate presentation to 13 homestay operators at Rumah Nyuka Itam in Lubok Lemba, Ulu Sarikei here on Saturday.

Ministry of Tourism permanent secretary Datu Ik Pahon Joyik, state Tourism Ministry deputy director Radiah Muhamad and Sarawak Tourism Board (STB) Sibu executive Rudi Anoi were among those present at the function.

Salang, who is also Julau MP, also urged homestay operators registered with the Ministry of Tourism (MOT) to take every opportunity provided by the government to uplift their standard of living as it had a special provision to provide them with assistance to upgrade their facilities.

He cited the assistance as the upgrading of community halls, landscaping, upgrading of rural roads, signboards and more.

“I was informed that under the Tenth Malaysia Plan, MOT has approved a total of RM5.659 million for upgrading of 19 homestay facilities nationwide.

“I believe with your involvement in this programme, it will bring good income to the longhouses and villages,” he said.

Salang was happy to note that the homestay programme had been well received by the rural people.

To date, he said, Sarawak had 26 homestays in 30 villages registered with MOT – the highest in the country.

Rumah Nyuka is the first homestay registered with MOT in Sarikei Division.

The 45-door traditional Iban longhouse built from ‘belian’ (hardwood) is about 40 minutes’ drive from Sarikei town and about two hours’ drive from Sibu.

The dwellers of the 50-year-old longhouse are mostly pepper and paddy farmers as well as rubber tappers.

So far the longhouse had received 1,335 tourists, of whom 80 per cent were Europeans, since the homestay programme was started there in 2009.

Source: Borneo Post Online, Sarawak.

Homestay adalah suatu Industri

Homestay sebagaimana tajuk posting ini adalah suatu Industri. Ia sedang berkembang dengan begitu pesat dengan dorongan dan beberapa inisiatif yang telah dan sedang diambil oleh kerajaan. Tetapi dalam Belanjawan 2012 yang baru dibentangkan oleh kerajaan Malaysia baru-baru ini, tidak ada langkah atau initiatif dalam bentuk galakan pelaburan, insentif percukaian yang kelihatan, hanya mungkin ia berada dalam bentuk pakej galakan pelancungan yang di pelopori oleh kerajaan. Walaubagaimanapun, saya sebagai orang baru yang mula berkecimpung dalam Industri Homestay secara berskala kecil akan cuba menerobos, meneroka dan mengkaji Industri Homestay ini dan berkongsi pendapat, pengetahuan dan pengalaman saya bersama-sama tuan-tuan agar memperoleh munafaat yang besar dalam perniagaan Homestay.

Sekiranya anda berminat dengan Homestay untuk tujuan kenduri kahwin dalam cuti persekolahan nanti sila hubungi Shafi 013-4411332/011-18311332/03-41616161. Sewa hanya RM160.00.

Homestay

Homestay is a form of tourism and/or study abroad program that allows the visitor to rent a room from a local family to better learn the local lifestyle as well as improve their language ability. While homestays can occur in any destination worldwide, some countries do more to encourage homestay than others as a mean of developing their tourism industry. Hosting a homestay participant also allows the local family to earn some additional, needed income. Having low profitability, as it is, homestay can not be regarded as strictly commercial activity, but more of cross cultural exchange. Students generally arrange a homestay with their school or educational institution, but can also informally arrange to stay with a family through social connections, and through a variety of private agencies. There are a number of online homestay agencies that connect student with hosts all over the world (usually for a nominal fee).

Source: Wikipedia. 

Selamat Datang ke Blog Homestay Sungai Petani.

Assalamualaikum dan Selamat Datang ke Blog saya berkaitan dengan sebuah Homestay di Sungai Petani. Dalam blog ini juga saya akan berkongsi tip-tip berkaitan dengan kesihatan, tip memulakan perniagaan yang murah dan mudah serta tip bagaimana menceburi Perniagaan Internet dari rumah dengan modal kecil sahaja. Tidak ketinggalan juga isu-isu semasa yang menarik. 

Bilik Tidur Utama Homestay

Bilik Tidur Homestay Tingkat Bawah

Bilik Tidur Homestay

Ruang Tamu Homestay yang luas

Sekiranya anda perlu berkunjung ke Utara kerana urusan kenduri, melawat saudara-mara, menghantar anak masuk IPT atau Majlis Konvokesyen dan perlu bermalam atau tempat singgahan, tempahlah Homestay diatas dengan menghubungi no tertera.

Sekian Salam Hormat.

Mohammad Shafi Ali