By DayakDaily Team
KUCHING, Oct 26: Rural longhouse communities should take advantage of tourism opportunities by developing homestays and showcasing their cultural heritage to attract more visitors.
In a recent Facebook post, Tourism, Arts and Culture Minister Dato Seri Tiong King Sing encouraged residents to be creative and proactive in developing tourism products that highlight their unique cultures, customs and traditions to attract both domestic and international tourists.
“Tourism can create economic opportunities for local communities, particularly those in the B40 and lower-income groups, while providing households with an additional source of income.
“Longhouse residents can earn extra income by opening homestays, but they must ensure the facilities are clean, comfortable and safe for visitors.
“Facilities such as toilets, floors, bedding and other amenities must be kept clean and well maintained to ensure visitors have a pleasant stay.”
Tiong highlighted the importance of listening to grassroots communities, particularly young people, to identify new ideas and untapped potential for local development.
He stressed that taking community input seriously and improving rural infrastructure while developing tourism products were essential to meeting residents’ needs, stimulating the local economy and improving their well-being. — DayakDaily
