Homestays - community programme or alternative accommodation? a re-evaluation of concept and execution
Homestay programmes - which form a part of Community-based tourism (CBT) vital in the development agenda of Third World Countries- provide tourists with a unique opportunity to experience the atmosphere, lifestyle practices and activities of rural communities in the countryside. The Ministry of To...
| Main Authors: | , , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
Faculty of Social Sciences and Humanities, UKM,Bangi
2015
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| Online Access: | http://journalarticle.ukm.my/9551/ http://journalarticle.ukm.my/9551/ http://journalarticle.ukm.my/9551/1/1.geografia-si-nov15-jabil-edam.pdf |
| Summary: | Homestay programmes - which form a part of Community-based tourism (CBT) vital in the development agenda of
Third World Countries- provide tourists with a unique opportunity to experience the atmosphere, lifestyle practices
and activities of rural communities in the countryside. The Ministry of Tourism and Culture, Malaysia has drawn up
a set of guidelines and requirements for operating a homestay program that must be adhered to before approval is
granted. The question that has arisen is whether homestay programs as practised in Malaysia truly present visitors
with the opportunity to experience the host community’s lifestyle, or merely serve as an alternative form of
accommodation. This article overviews the various scenarios and dilemmas faced in implementing the homestay
programmes in the Malaysian context, the causes that lead to its ‘abuse’, and some practical solutions that may be
proposed to address the arising issues and challenges in an integrated manner. |
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