BANGI – The Orang Asli Development Department (Jakoa) through cross-ministry cooperation will provide funds to enable the Orang Asli community to go into homestay business seriously, said its director-general, Sapiah Mohd Nor.
She said Jakoa is providing funds and other inputs for Orang Asli to buy equipment in order to build homestays and expand their business.
“Jakoa will attempt to provide the funds as well as try to look at other channels.
“Some funds are provided by the Tourism, Arts and Culture Ministry, who will also receive assistance from other related ministries,” she said after closing the Malaysian Skills Certificate Course for Homestay Operations in Recognition of Prior Achievements (Orang Asli) here today.
Sapiah said Orang Asli have started getting involved in the homestay business by taking advantage of their location, which is far from the city, and diversifying rural tourism activities.
“However, more related skills such as marketing and advertising are needed for them to develop their homestay business successfully,” she said.
The course was conducted by Jakoa and the Institute For Rural Advancement (Infra), for four months since May with 30 participants from Selangor, Pahang, Kelantan, Johor, and Perak covering five series of courses involving basic food handling, financial management, and customer service among others.
It is aimed at nurturing rural tourism entrepreneurs and making Orang Asli homestay operators be more independent besides opening up various paths of success for them.
Muhammad Jamil Asun, 34, of Kg Orang Asli Gerachi Jaya, Kuala Kubu Baru, Selangor said the skills and teachings he acquired would be applied to build his homestay or chalet.
“I am now preparing a working paper to build a homestay but its location is not determined yet as it requires the approval of several parties including the Orang Asli community,” said Jamil who is from the Temuan tribe.
Jamil, who also received the Visionary Guide Trainee Award at the ceremony, hoped Infra and other agencies would provide skill training for nature guides in mountain climbing and kayaking.
He said this is to prepare them with various skills for challenging outdoor activities that are currently gaining traction. – Bernama, August 19, 2022
