The community-based homestay initiative in Malaysia, led by the Ministry of Tourism, Arts & Culture (MOTAC) and Tourism Malaysia, aims to provide tourists with an authentic cultural experience while supporting the local economy. Through this initiative, tourists have the opportunity to stay with local families in rural areas, offering a unique immersion into Malaysian culture, traditions, and daily life.
In alignment with this MOTAC initiative, a group of Bachelor of International Tourism Management (BITM) students from the School of Hospitality, Tourism and Events (SHTE) embarked on an educational trip to Sekinchan and Sabak Bernam, Selangor. The trip, organized by Dr. Thanam Subramaniam, a Senior Lecturer at SHTE and Community and Social Development Hub Leader of the Sustainable Tourism Impact Lab, aimed to provide students with practical experiences at a community-based homestay in Sabak Bernam while exploring rural tourism in both Sekinchan and Sabak Bernam.
During the trip, students visited paddy fields, a museum, a beach, a fishing village, and a Chinese temple, all while enjoying local cuisine. The experience was especially enriching for the international students from Japan, China, Korea, Mauritius, and the Maldives, who gained a deep understanding of rural life in Malaysia. Moreover, the trip allowed students to engage with local communities and gain insights into the operations of rural tourism in Sekinchan and Sabak Bernam. They also brainstormed ideas to sustain the community-based homestay business and support the socio-economic development of the local communities.
Three students from the group are currently involved in a tourism project to enhance the community-based homestay business further. Their project includes implementing various promotional strategies, such as 360-degree videos, interactive community activities, and showcasing local cuisine. This initiative is part of the Tourism Integrated Project module, offered to final-year tourism students.
Overall, this educational trip provided a transformative experience, as students immersed themselves in Malaysia's rural tourism landscape. Staying at a community-based homestay in Sabak Bernam offered them firsthand exposure to local life, where they enjoyed authentic Malaysian cuisine and the warm hospitality of their hosts. For the international students, the journey was not only educational but also deeply enriching, fostering cross-cultural exchanges and leaving them with lasting memories of Malaysia's vibrant rural communities.
