Malaysia Sees Homestay Growth In Australia
By Neville D'CruzMELBOURNE, 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
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