Date: 21 November, 2012
Malaysia homestay programme wins UN award.
KUALA LUMPUR: The Malaysia Homestay Experience programme has
won the UNWTO Ulysses Award for Innovation in Public Policy and Governance.
Tourism Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ng Yen Yen said winning the prestigious award
came as a surprise.
The award recognises the Government’s efforts to promote
tourism in the rural areas through homestay programmes. “Our homestay programme
has become more popular, with an increase in tourists from 161,561 in 2009 to
213,263 between January and August this year,” said Dr Ng after receiving the
award at a presentation ceremony in a hotel here.
The World Tourism Organisation (UNWTO) is the United Nations
agency responsible for the promotion of responsible, sustainable and
universally accessible tourism. The Ulysses Award has been presented annually
since 2003 under six different categories including private enterprises,
research and technology, creative dissemination of knowledge and lifetime
achievement.
The award was received by the ministry’s deputy
secretary-general Rashidi Hasbullah at a ceremony in Istanbul, Turkey on Nov
15. Rashidi presented the trophy to the ministry’s secretary-general Datuk Dr
Ong Hong Peng, who in turn presented it to Dr Ng.
The ministry is encouraging more villagers to sign up for
the homestay programme and receive training before being certified. “So far,
159 villages with 3,424 homes have taken part,” said Dr Ng.
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