THE Penang Regional Development Authority (Perda) has identified five more villages in the state for its homestay programme.
Perda chairman Datuk Hilmi Abdul Rashid said the villages were located at Teluk Bahang, Pulau Betong and Jalan Baru in Balik Pulau, Sungai Chenaam in Nibong Tebal and Sungai Semilang in Juru.
He said the Rural and Regional Development Ministry would allocate, through Perda, RM100,000 to each village for the programme.
“The homestay programme in these villages will start early next year,” he said in an interview.
Hilmi said the allocation would be spent to improve basic amenities in the participating villages, including signage, landscaping, multi-purpose halls, streetlightings and roads.
He said several attractions would also be introduced in the villages such as steam bath, traditional massage and stalls selling handicrafts.
He said the homestay programme would enable residents in the villages to earn extra in-come.
“They can sell handicrafts and traditional cakes or earn extra money through stage performances and kompang, wau (kite) and top spinning demonstrations for tourists,” Hilmi added.
He said those participating in the homestay programme would get income by renting rooms at between RM60 and RM120 per room which are rates decided Koperasi Pelabuhan (Kopel).
Kopel, which is chaired by Pulau Betong assemblyman Muhammad Farid Saad, will manage the homestay programme.
Hilmi said the Mengkuang Titi homestay programme had proven that it could be successful if it was well managed and promoted.
More than 8,000 tourists, including those from the United States, Japan, Saudi Arabia and Britain, had stayed in Mengkuang Titi under the programme.
SOURCE: The Star Malaysia (Metro)
p/s: Pulau Betong Village, not the Pulau Betong Island ;)