Wednesday, September 09, 2009

Sabah Homestays: Opening homes for foreign visitors


PENAMPANG: Introducing homestays and welcoming foreign visitors into our own home not only help supplement household income but also help promote the local cultures of Sabahans.

Kivatu Homestay co-owner Francis Mobijon said that it was an opportunity which the local folks could easily embark into, as all they needed was a spare room which they could rent out to visitors.

Unfortunately, aside from Ranau, other districts in Sabah are not active in participating in the homestay programme initiated and currently being promoted by the Tourism, Culture and Environment Ministry.

In Penampang, only few families have decided to incorporate their home into the homestay programme.

Francis and his wife, Jane, decided to open their home to visitors in 2006, and since then, they have never had their house empty of visitors.

“We have visitors coming in all the time, 70 per cent of whom are Asians while the rest comprised Caucasians,” said Francis.

Their house, a three-storey building constructed on the slopes of Kampung Kivatu, and overlooks nearly the whole of the Donggongon township, is still surrounded by greenery and remains cool throughout the whole day and night.

Continue reading at: Sabah Homestays: Opening homes for foreign visitors
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