Rural tourism players urged to register under MOTAC Homestay

 By Olivia Miwil - December 29, 2021 @ 10:31am

The scenic view from Malubang village that offers rural tourism package such as touring the Supirak island and other legendary sites, water activities and seafood. - Pic by Moktar Amirol.

KUDAT: Rural tourism players should register themselves as part of the registered homestay programme under the Tourism, Arts and Culture Ministry (MOTAC) to have their areas developed.

Kudat Misompuru Homestay coordinator Datuk Cobra Jeffry Ayah, who won the latest 2019-2021 Asean Homestay Standard Award, said the district here had shown improvement in terms of infrastructure development.

"The path leading to Misompuru Homestay and the nearby beach used to be an unpaved road but not anymore.

"The same goes for other local operators in the district registered under the brand of Misompuru homestay who also saw their surroundings being developed for tourism activities.

"This shows the importance for the community to be part of the homestay programme and association," he told the New Straits Times, adding that the same development also took place at Kadamaian in Kota Belud and Kiulu in Tuaran.

Cobra, who is also Malaysia Homestay Entrepreneur Association vice-president, said through the homestay programme, they could apply for more infrastructure funding, not only from the ministry but also from its rural development counterpart.

The previous requirement was that at least 10 families within a few neighbouring villages must let their houses be used as accommodations.

However, since November, the requirement had been reduced to only five family houses within the neighbouring villages.

Cobra said community-based tourism had helped in terms of poverty eradication in the district.

Prior to the Covid-19 pandemic last year, the Misompuru Homestay with 34 houses and at least 12 chalets at the "Simpang Mengayau" or Tip of Borneo managed to rake in about a million ringgit in annual revenue.

"In fact, Kudat has the second highest number of international tourists after Semporna in the state, which I think should be used as a significant parameter of tourism contribution to the economy as foreign currency is being spent here.

He said despite a report stating Kudat as one of the poorest districts in the country, he did not agree as the district has its own port, airport, stadium, magistrate court, museum, Malaysia's largest marine park, among others, that proved otherwise.

In Pitas, Supirak Tourism Association chairman Moktar Amirol said Kampung Malubang in the district currently has two guest houses and 10 people attending courses related to homestay management.

"Tourism activities around the village started in 2015 and the number of visitors slowly grew in 2018.

"Since 2018, the community has been earning between RM15,000 and RM20,000 every year.

"However, due to the implementation of the Movement Control Order, the income has dropped to between RM3,000 and RM5,000."

Moktar said the villagers are also earning income from offering boat shuttling to the ship-like Supirak island, kayaking and snorkeling, fishing and selling seafood products.

The association expressed hope for the government to look into providing more facilities including police beat bases, health clinic and allocations for tourism products in the village, as well as courses.