Rail boost for homestay drive

SINGAPORE: Malaysia’s increasingly popular homestay programme is on the right track – it’s getting a boost from rail tourism. “Under this rail and homestay package from Singapore to various parts of Malaysia, we will be able to showcase the country’s charms and treasures,” said Tourism Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ng Yen Yen. “For instance, for a trip to Kelantan, the train will pass at least 21 small stations for people to experience the rural life,” she said when launching the new tour package at the Tanjung Pagar railway station here on Friday night. A total of 120 Singapore tourists, agents and media people were flagged off on board the train for the east coast state, where they will be placed with their host families in Seterpa, Kampung Suri and Kubang Telaga.

All aboard!: Dr Ng flagging off the Rail and Homestay package at the Tanjung Pagar Railway Station in Singapore on Friday. Looking on are KTMB president Dr Aminuddin Adnan (left), Malaysian Deputy High Commissioner to Singapore Dr Faisal Mohammad and Tourism Ministry acting director-general Azizan Nordin.

Dr Ng described Singaporeans as an adventurous lot. Some 16,000 Singaporeans tasted the homestay experience in the first seven months of this year. Others include those from Japan (4,300 tourists), Australia (1,200) and several European countries. “I assure our visitors that these homes are clean, comfortable and with proper toilet and bathroom facilities,” she said. She pointed out that rail tourism has been successful in some countries, including India, Australia, Russia and the United States.

“Now, we have our own Trans Singapore-Malaysia rail travel,” said Dr Ng, a Kelantanese, adding that she used to take the train when commuting from her homestate to other parts of Malaysia. She said the homestay programme was important as it generated income for people in the rural areas. Between January and July this year, homestay packages yielded a revenue of RM6.27mil. However, said Dr Ng, the occupancy rate for the homestays was still low at about 10%.

“We are doing our best to increase this to 25%,” she said, adding that in the first seven months more than 28,000 tourists stayed at the 3,000 homes registered under the programme. During the same period, 81,000 local visitors paid for the homestay packages. The ministry has targeted at least 25,000 new visitors for the programme this year. Dr Ng added that she was confident the new rail package would help boost the occupancy rate for the homestays nationwide. Besides the Kelantan route to Tumpat, the Trans Singapore-Malaysia rail travel also has a package from the republic to Padang Besar in Perlis. The packages range from S$215 (RM494) to S$435 (RM1,000) per person.

-thestar online.