Homestay operator finds venture well worth it By Fiqah Roslan
COMMUNITY-based tourism has become the focus of the State Government in recent years to improve rural communities’ livelihood and quality of life.
Jonah Pemanul�� a native in Sikuati�� Kudat�� said that since offering her home to tourists seeking an authentic local experience in the early 2000s�� she has gained much knowledge about how tourism could improve the life of rural folk.
After joining Misompuru Homestay�� a programme led by Datuk Jeffry Ayah @ Cobra�� Jonah said the experience of venturing into the hospitality industry enabled her to learn a lot.
“I have definitely learnt to speak better English as a result of interacting with homestay guests�� particularly those from overseas.
"Guests from other countries�� such as Japan or Korea�� cannot communicate in English�� so I have somehow learnt to communicate a bit in their languages. I’ve since learnt to speak a bit of Mandarin too. Even a little bit can help my guests�� and it encourages me to expand my knowledge��” she said.
Jonah also recounted a memorable experience with Japanese guests who taught her their culture and customs.
“I once served my Japanese guests rice in a big bowl because we usually leave the rice on the table in case they want to have second helpings. But I didn’t know that for some Japanese�� they must finish what is served to them.
“I didn’t know this because I’ve hosted other Japanese guests who only ate as much as they could and didn’t finish the rest�� like we do. But these particular guests tried to finish everything on the table and I noticed they were struggling after a while. I asked them what was wrong and they explained it to me. I apologized and told them that I didn’t know it was their custom to finish all the food served to them��” she reminisced.
Jonah said the biggest and possibly more significant change she has experienced in her years of involvement in Misompuru Homestay is not in terms of income but quality of life.
The quality of her life improved markedly as a homestay host compared to only working as a civil servant and as a member of a rural community�� she said.
“I gained a lot of knowledge from guests from around the world. If I were to stick to the mentality and attitude of the people around me�� I will not move forward – I will fall behind.
“When I welcome guests to my home�� I learn a lot of things that are actually positive but are perceived to be negative by the rural community.
“Now that I’ve been in this business for a few years�� I’ve learned to practise some of the things I’ve picked up from my guests while there are other things I don’t. I know where to draw the line��” she said.
However�� it is not as easy as it sounds�� Jonah confessed. It can be difficult to deviate from the norm�� especially in a small and closeknit community. Nonetheless�� the 53-year-old persists.
“I’ve learned to tune out negative criticism from locals�� otherwise it will get in the way of my economy. It’s not beneficial. I tell my children the same thing; some people’s opinions you should listen to and others you need to tune out.
“I look ahead into a more global future. Just because I live in a ‘kampung��’ does not mean I have to live in a ‘kampungan’ way. We must have extra knowledge that can improve not only ourselves but our family as well.
“My children�� having been exposed to the homestay business since young�� are adept at hospitality. They know what arrangements to make before and after we receive guests and how to entertain them��” she said with a tinge of pride.
Jonah�� who currently serves as matron of 15 clinics across Kudat�� Banggi Island and Matunggong�� admitted that her husband is not fully supportive of her homestay business.
She believes her husband’s disapproval stems from the influence of family members�� but she remains grateful she is able to pursue her homestay business.
“Sometimes he objects�� but I’m a headstrong person. If it is something I like�� something I’m invested in�� I will do it no matter what anyone says. I don’t fight fire with fire and I don’t retaliate.
“Whatever he has to say�� I will reply with one or two words and continue to do what I like. I just make sure he knows what I’m doing and don’t go behind his back��” she shared.
It was in 2003 that Jonah learnt about the homestay programme�� and she decided to build her current home cum homestay on the land she inherited from her father.
Her homestay has attracted between three to more than 20 guests a month�� and it has managed to gross over RM12��000 in extra income back in 2012�� her most lucrative year.
Jonah said her guests are mostly Europeans but she also receives tourists from Japan�� Korea�� Singapore and even locals.
She plans to apply for retirement in the next two years if her homestay business manages to generate at least three fourths of what she currently earns from her day job.
Meanwhile�� a 35-year-old civil servant did not imagine his passion for traditional and cultural music would take him as far as Paris�� after having only performed around the district for some years.
Razif Somuil said that being taken under the wing of Misompuru Homestay has given his group�� Tindakon Dazang�� great exposure.
“Previously�� we only played in villages around Kudat and during festivals or cultural performances in the district. But since becoming the cultural performance group for Misompuru Homestay�� we’ve been able to showcase the culture of our people on an international stage. This is a great point of pride for us because we have been given the opportunity to introduce our culture to a wider audience��” he said.
Razif�� whose wife�� Frainy Jamurak�� is also a cultural performer�� said�� earnings from their performances add convenience and security to their family with up to RM3��000 a month�� on top of income from his full-time job.
The leader of Tindakon Dazang said�� he and his members formed the group out of similar interests in playing music�� specifically that which is synonymous with the Rungus community.
Among the traditional musical instruments featured in the band’s repertoire include the gong and sundatang�� played by Razif himself.