| Sabah Homestay Location Map Link |
| Home & Introduction |
| To provide this form of experience the "Homestay Program" in Sabah (Malaysian Borneo), was established by the Sabah and Malaysian Ministry's of Tourism to better organise and coordinate the set-up and operation of homestays by homestay providers and host families throughout the State of Sabah. This in part was done to ensure that homestay host families attain a certain basic standard, to safeguard the health and safety of visitors, and be able to provide a clean and comfortable place to accommodate visitors. It was also done to ensure that host families are properly prepared to receive visitors, that they are indeed ready to showcase their own cultures and traditions, and have in place measures to safeguard their cultures and traditions from potential negative social and cultural impacts from visitors. |
| Because Sabah (Malaysian Borneo) is a place of such rich ethnic and cultural diversity, In essence the Homestay Program was established to highlight and showcase this, and at the same time provide alternate and sustainable economic opportunities for people in rural and remote parts of Sabah. Most importantly; however, the program was set up to provide an organised mechanism to safeguard all persons involved. In essence, by coordinating and managing this form of visitation it is hoped that the warm and authentic cultural experience that a homestay offers in Sabah can be perpetuated for many years to come. Simply put, it is hoped that visitors five or ten years into the future will be able to come and experience the same unique and diverse cultures of Sabah in an atmosphere of warmth and hospitality that is the hallmark of Sabah today. See more on "Responsible Tourism" |
| Homestays Programs have been established in Sabah since the early 1990s, as either economic development initiatives of government agencies or local tour & travel companies. More recently Homestay Programs have been started by individuals or community groups in various locations throughout the State of Sabah. By definition, in Sabah, homestay programs are meant to be a community (village based) initiative, and are meant to involve more than one household. In fact a minimum of 10 host families in a respective community (or village) are required before the group is eligible to register as a Homestay Program. There are; however, private businesses that use the wording "homestay" in their company name, but these places are simply private "lodging houses" and should not be confused with the strict definition and concept of "homestay" as defined by the Malaysian Ministry of Tourism. There are two main reasons that Homestay Programs are meant to be community initiatives: Firstly, because cultural oriented visitation in villages, in Sabah, is very difficult to detach itself from the rest of the community, and often involves more than one family, and many aspects of a community or cultural entity. For example in a traditional context, visitors to a village should at least pay their respect to the village head(s). Basically in a village cultural context it is difficult not to get everyone involved, hence the collective (entire community) should be the recipient of benefits of the visitation - as far as possible. Secondly, encouraging tourism and visitation outside of towns and resorts is done to showcase Sabah's immense appeal and ultimately attract more visitors to the State. In line with this, the Rural Tourism Development Initiative was designed to spread the tourist dollars throughout the state, and not just benefit the major towns and their big hotels and resorts. Based on this rationale the Homestay Program was set up to benefit rural areas, communities as a whole, not simply individuals. Hence the Homestay Program in Sabah, encourages as many households as possible in a village to get involved, and between them coordinate and share the visitation in an equitable way. |
Homestays in Sabah provide a unique opportunity to experience the way of life of local people of an area along with indigenous and traditional cultures. Homestays also provide an opportunity for visitors to experience a place in an authentic, comfortable and homely setting. Homestays as the term suggests means staying in someones home. By definition a home is "a dwelling place together with a family unit that occupies it - a household" (Encarta). Homestays are not merely a place of accommodation for travellers, and should not be confused with "Bed n Breakfast", "Inns" or "Lodging Houses". |
| Introduction: Sabah Homestay Association |
| Image Source: MPV - Tambunan Homestay |
| Image Source: MPV - Miso Walai Homestay Kinabatangan |
| Why Choose to Homestay? |
| Responsible Travel |
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| The adage "take nothing but photographs leave nothing but footprints" still very much encapsulates the essence and meaning of responsible travel. Responsible travel, by definition, should provide for an enriching and fulfilling visitor experience, where visitors can learn to understand and appreciate the places they visit, providing opportunities to contribute in positive ways, while at the same time being mindful to minimise adverse or negative impacts that can spin-off from the visitation itself. Homestays in Sabah offer an immediate opportunity for "Responsible Travellers" to participate in an enriching experience and utilise this platform to learn so much more about what Sabah has to offer to visitors. Homestays also provide an opportunity for travellers to support sustainable rural development initiatives. |
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5, 6 & 7th Floor Menara Alliance Bank Wisma Tun Fuad Stephens, Karamunsing 88300, Kota Kinabalu, Sabah, Malaysia
Telephone H/P: 019 8316897 email: mdrilhh@yahoo.com OR
email: joannakitingan@yahoo.com |
| Sabah Homestay Association - About Us: |
| FOR MORE INFORMATION PLEASE CONTACT joannakitingan@yahoo.com |
| Photo Gallery LINK |
sabah-homestay.org |
| Official Site: Owned & Operated by the Sabah Homestay Association Sabah - Malaysian Borneo |
