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Registration of Homestay on Voluntary Basis (The Star: 06-08-2014)

We refer to the letter, "Act against unethical homestay operators", (The Star ,Aug 4). The Ministry of Tourism and Culture appreciates the writer's concerns and would like to provide some further clarification with regards to the Malaysian Homestay Experience.

2. The Malaysia Homestay Experience primarily aims to alleviate the standard of living of rural community in Malaysia, whilst offering tourists to experience the diversity of Malaysian cultures, cuisines and traditions. The registration of homestays with the Ministry of Tourism and Culture (MOTAC) is on a voluntary basis. Interested kampung or potential homestay operators need to fulfil strict criteria and must be tourist - ready before being able to be registered and promoted by MOTAC.

These criteria include:
  • Maintain a high level of security, safety and cleanliness;
  • Embracing think and act tourism mind-set;
  • Ease of accessibility to tourists - ffering rural based and traditional activities such as rubber tapping, fishing, traditional games and cultural performances; and comprises at least 10 houses to make it viable for group activities to be carried out.

3. A comprehensive evaluation is carried out to ensure that every aspect and requirements are fulfilled before homestays are registered with MOTAC; which includes on-site evaluation by representatives from MOTAC, Department of Health, Tourism Malaysia, Homestay Association and the Jawatankuasa Kemajuan dan Keselamatan Kampung (JKKK).

4. At this juncture, we would like to point out that the homestay reported in The Star dated 4th of August 2014 is not registered with the Ministry of Tourism and Culture, Malaysia.

5. It is noteworthy to highlight that the Ministry of Tourism and Culture has always taken initiatives to avoid confusion of services offered by registered homestays under the Ministry, and to curb issues of non-registered homestay. These include:
  • Close cooperation with the local authorities to address the issue of illegal homestay operators;
  • Local authorities to be more stringent in issuing business license for accomodation premises when using the term "homestay";
  • Company Commission of Malaysia (Suruhanjaya Syarikat Malaysia-SSM) will refer to MOTAC of any application for company registration using the term "homestay"; and
  • The usage of the Malaysia Homestay Expereince Logo under the provisions of the Trade Marks Act 1976 and Trade Marks Regulations 1997 by the registered homestay for quality, safety and security assurance.

6. Tourists are advised to look for the Malaysia Homestay Experience Logo placed at each and every house that are registered with MOTAC under this program or to look up for the list of registered homestays in the MOTAC's website (www.motac.gov.my) before engaging with the operators.

(DR. AMERJIT SINGH A/L S.BHAG SINGH)
Head Corporate Communications Unit
Ministry of Tourism and Culture
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