Govt Eyes RM200 Million From Homestay Sector

 

The government is setting its sights on generating RM200 million in revenue from Malaysia’s homestay sector in 2026, leveraging the momentum of Visit Malaysia Year 2026 (VM2026) to strengthen the country’s rural tourism and community-based economic ecosystem. 

Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi, who also heads the Rural and Regional Development Ministry, said the initiative reflects the government’s broader push to make homestays a key economic pillar and a symbol of Malaysian hospitality. 

“Homestays are the heartbeat that connects tourists with rural communities. They not only generate income but also preserve culture, strengthen unity and create new opportunities for the younger generation,” Ahmad Zahid said. 

Ahmad Zahid shared that the government is implementing 12 financing schemes and grants across multiple agencies to help operators upgrade facilities, improve guest experiences and increase competitiveness. 

“These initiatives enable operators to enhance the quality of their premises and enrich visitors’ experiences, ensuring sustainability and long-term growth for community-based tourism,” he said. 

To strengthen the ecosystem, he revealed that more than RM1.1 million has been allocated for rural road and community facility upgrades, improving accessibility and visitor infrastructure around homestay locations. 

On the international front, promotional efforts are being intensified through sales missions, trade exhibitions and tourism seminars in key markets, including Indonesia, China, South Korea, Japan, Vietnam and New Zealand. Digital channels such as jomhomestay.my and go2homestay.my have been developed to support marketing and booking initiatives. 

“These efforts are part of a coordinated strategy to position Malaysia’s homestay offerings as a sustainable, culturally immersive tourism product aligned with global travel trends favouring experiential tourism,” Ahmad Zahid said. 

He added that in line with the government’s commitment to inclusive growth, the ministry is empowering women entrepreneurs through the JELITA TVET and Homestay Operations Training Programmes, conducted by the Institute for Rural Advancement, providing Malaysian Skills Certificates Levels 2 and 3 in homestay entrepreneurship. 

“We want to ensure rural communities benefit directly from Malaysia’s tourism growth story while maintaining the authenticity that makes our destinations unique,” Ahmad Zahid said.

-Business Today.