![[PR] PR_Ascott and Vimut Hospital_2024](https://www.traveldailynews.asia/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/PR-PR_Ascott-and-Vimut-Hospital_2024-400x265.jpg)
With Malaysia keen to embrace a sustainable approach to its tourism development praises its homestay program…
KUALA LUMPUR- With Malaysia keen to embrace a sustainable approach to its tourism development praises its homestay program. According to Malaysia Minister of Tourism Dr Ng Yen Yen, the Malaysian Homestay Program is the perfect combination of sustainable, environment-friendly, culture and social-orientated tourism product. “Tourists can experience the roots of our culture and get a glimpse of people’s real life. It contributes to make lifestyle in the countryside better known by our foreign guests. In return, it also helps to bring revenues to less known areas within our country,” she was recently telling media during PATA Annual Conference in Kuala Lumpur. The Malaysia Homestay Programme was introduced in 1995 and has garnered wide publicity internationally. In 2010, close to 196,500 people took up homestay tour packages, of which 49,126 were foreigners. In the last two years, packages have been introduced associating rail travel with homestays.
Malaysia took measures over the last decade to shift the industry’s objectives from mass tourism into sustainable and niche tourism. UNESCO listing of the old cities of Penang and Melacca, efforts to promote MICE, medical tourism, nature-based experiences in Sabah, Sarawak or Taman Negara (Pahang) and homestay products are some of Malaysia’s recent successes in changing the country’s perception. “We must protect what Mother Nature gave to us and praise it. This is the key to our future in a rapid changing world where the search for authenticity is on the increase,” explained the Minister. Malaysia’s commitment to environment’s protection has been recently acknowledged by the international community. In the Environment Performance Index, Malaysia was the third best performer in Asia Pacific and came on 25th position among 132 countries around the world.
Luc Citrinot a French national is a freelance journalist and consultant in tourism and air transport with over 20 years experience. Based in Paris and Bangkok, he works for various travel and air transport trade publications in Europe and Asia.
