The proof is in the eating, as Wan Junaidi tastes the ‘King of Fruits’ after launching the MPPP programme at Santubong Homestay. With him are Hazlan (left) and Ik Pahon (right).
KUCHING: Homestay operators in Santubong must be creative and innovative to look beyond local tourism products as a means to sustain their livelihood and instead make the area flourish.
Santubong MP Dato Sri Wan Junaidi Tuanku Jaafar said because he was doubly serious on helping these operators in his parliamentary constituency, he called for Agriculture and Agro-Based Industry Ministry assistance to conduct a course on agro products to improve their socio-economic status.
“We want you to come out and get knowledge on how to lure tourists to your homestay, using agro based products and make their stay more memorable while word of mouth will bring in more tourists,” he told 50 participants joining the Parliamentary Agriculture Development Council (MPPP) programme at Santubong Homestay, before he launched it here yesterday.
“You should be able to expose your homestay to the world if you operate it in more ways since your area has many attractions like natural beauty, history, culture and much more, not found anywhere in the world,” he added.
Wan Junaidi, who is also the Deputy Home Minister, revealed that the course was the first of its kind for homestay operators in his constituency and he is bent on them moving forward with what they learn in the two-day course.
“I urge the Agriculture and Agro-Based Industry Ministry and Federal Agriculture Marketing Authority (Fama) to work with you all and ensure that the programme is successful so that you can diversify products to sustain your income and operate your homestay with more attractions.”
He said if they are successful, then his next stage (and course) would be on how to enhance their business plan in homestay.
Wan Junaidi reminded operators that the state government was implementing infrastructure and promoting Sarawak to the world aggressively, as “we have abundant rich flora and fauna that generates income through the tourism industry”.
He said Santubong, with 240km of coastal landscape, was a gem to tourism and this was what homestay operators in his constituency could capitalise on to lure more tourists there.
“The eco-tourism from Kampung Api to Telok Melano are the products that can be tapped to full potential and once development comes, we hope you are already established to provide the greater services needed of you,” he said.
Meanwhile, Permanent Secretary to Tourism Ministry Datu Ik Pahon Joyik called the homestay programme a growing industry, not only in the state but also in the country. Up to September this year, Sarawak has 31 homestays that are registered, he added.
The income recorded from homestays up to September was RM3.7 million, with Santubong Homestay being among the top three in Sarawak, he disclosed.
Ik Pahon said the potential of agro-based tourism was very attractive and had a wide scope as a lucrative venture for homestay operators.
“Agro-based farming can be packaged into tourism and this is what the ministry hopes for, to attract foreign tourists,” he said.
He hoped that this new agro-tourism would flourish in Santubong as the constituency had good basic infrastructure.
Demak Laut assemblyman Dr Hazland Hipni, state Fama director Paza Dan and Sarawak Homestay Association president Jamilah Shukri were among those present.
Wan Junaidi watering a fruit seedling after planting it.