KUCHING: Homestay operators in Sarawak netted a total income of RM3.63 million in rentals from January to September this year, which is the third highest after Pahang and Sabah.
Tourism, Arts and Culture Ministry deputy secretary-general (Culture) Saraya Arbi said the collection was made through 43 homestays, involving 950 rooms and 620 operators.
“We expect the collection to reach RM4.5 million by the end of the year,” she said after opening a homestay conference organised by the ministry at Plaza Merdeka here Friday.
She said 7,011 foreign tourists and 40,860 domestic tourists had stayed at homestays in the state in the first nine months of this year.
In conjunction with the Visit Malaysia Year 2020, Saraya said homestay operators should introduce more activities to attract more tourists to stay at their respective places.
“Sarawak has people of various ethnic groups and culture that attract tourists, especially from Europe and China, to come,” she added.
The ministry, she said, is aware of the setbacks faced by some homestay operators, especially in the remote areas. They have problems marketing their products through the digital platform as their area lacks good communication infrastructure, she added. — Bernama