Homestay way to more rooms

Homestay way to more rooms
By Nik Naizi Husin
Monday August 14, 2006

ROMPIN: The homestay programme held actively in several states could be the “solution” to cater to the influx of foreign tourists in conjunction with Visit Malaysia Year 2007.

Tourism Malaysia director-general Datuk Kamaruddin Siaraf said the present number of rooms in hotels, chalets and budget hotels would not be sufficient to accommodate the influx of foreign tourists expected next year.

Kamaruddin performing the ‘tepung tawar’ ceremony at Gousmet’s and McGlasher’s ‘wedding.’

“Malaysia is expected to receive more than 20 million foreign tourists in conjunction with the launching of the Visit Malaysia Year 2007.

“We in Tourism Malaysia have planned a host of activities from next year throughout the country.

“Malaysians should now ‘think tourism and get tourism’ to prepare for the occasion,” he said after the launching of the homestay programme in Kam-pung Leban Chondong here on Sunday.

The programme was declared open by Rompin district officer Datuk Azmi Kassim.

New Zealand couple Natalie Gousmet, 25, and Drew McGlasher, 24, participated in a staged traditional Malay wedding in full customary attire.

Presently, the couple were “just friends” but sportingly took part in the programme held at the village.

Kamaruddin later performed the tepung tawar in which the couple sat close together on a dais to mark the bersanding ceremony.

Also present were Tourism Malaysia Pahang director Jefri Munir and Bukit Fraser’s Development Corporation general manager Datin Siti Rahmah Ahmad.

Kamaruddin said the Govern-ment had been putting in a lot of efforts to promote the homestay programme.

“The programme is gaining popularity among foreigners from many parts of the world.

“Among others, it offers the visitors a taste of local lifestyle, cultures and daily activities.

“These unique experiences are not available to them if they stay in big towns and luxury hotels,” he added. - The Star

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