The Misompuru Homestay is a community programme where local families open their homes to visitors who wish to stay there.
The homestay programme encompasses 10 villages in the Kudat area, a short drive from the northernmost tip of Borneo, Tanjung Simpang Mengayau.
“The Misompuru Homestay achieved a gross revenue of RM1.28 million last year and we want to help see this figure go up next year,” Ahmad Zaki Abu Bakar, Sabah director of the federal tourism and culture ministry told FMT.
“We consider the Misompuru Homestay a successful venture and we want to make it a role model and benchmark for other homestays in Sabah.
“This is in line with the government’s aspiration to focus on community-based tourism and homestays are one of the products under the banner of bio-tourism or nature-culture tourism.
“We are proud of Sabah’s richness in nature-culture and I’m sure this tourism venture will expand.”
Zaki said from January to November last year, the Misompuru Homestay received RM1.03 million from the homestay packages, RM26,088 from transportation and RM221,269 from product sales.
The homestay attracted 17,737 guests last year, 1,521 of whom were foreigners from 46 countries.
October saw the most number, with 2,450 visitors arriving.
The homestay offers various activities under five categories — nature, outdoor and adventure, Rungus indigenous culture, Rungus agricultural activities, education and training, as well as sports and games.