STATE TO ATTRACT MORE FOREIGN STUDENTS FOR HOMESTAY PROGRAMMES

KUCHING (Malaysia), May 26 (Bernama) - In an effort to attract more
tourists, East Malaysia state of Sarawak is targeting foreign students to take
part in Homestay programmes and at the same time learn English here, the state's
capital city.

Urban Development and Tourism Minister Michael Manyin said the current
trend showed that a lot of foreign students, especially Koreans and Japanese,
joined Homestay programmes during school holidays while also taking English
courses.

"The Homestay Programme which offers a package to learn English is getting
good response among students from Korea and Japan where they will come to
Malaysia for two weeks during their school holidays.

"The students will attend English classes in addition to learning about the
way of life, culture, handicraft and enjoying traditional delicacies in villages
and longhouses," he told reporters after launching the "Panggah" (Baruk)
building at a village near here, Monday.

Manyin said 232 operators from 19 villages were pursuing the Homestay
programme throughout Sarawak.

He said 10,480 tourists had taken part in Homestay programmes here, yielding
as much as RM500,000 to Homestay operators in the state.

"In the first two months this year, 5,632 tourists took part in Homestay
programmes and brought in around RM100,000," he said.

Meanwhile, Manyin urged Homestay programme operators in the state to
register with the Tourism Ministry so that they could enjoy the facilities and
benefits offered by the ministry.

"The ministry will allocate funds to upgrade facilities in the houses
registered with the ministry. For example, RM5,000 will be given to upgrade
toilets in each home.

"Besides that, the ministry will also help programme operators with
promotion work locally and abroad. I hope they will register with the ministry
as soon as possible," he said. (US$1=RM3.48)
-- BERNAMA