Inaugural homestay training programme to be held this Saturday at BRS in Padawan
KUCHING: The Faculty of Hospitality and Tourism Management ( FHTM) of UCSI University Sarawak Campus and the Malaysia Centre for Tourism and Hospitality Education ( MyCenTHE) Sarawak Region will be hosting the inaugural annual homestay training programme entitled ‘ Sarawak Next Paradise Homestay’.
To be held from 8am to 5pm on July 7at Taba Sait multipurpose hall at Bengoh Resetlement Scheme ( BRS) in Padawan here, these faculties are collaborating with the Ministry of Tourism and Culture; Ministry of Tourism, Arts, Culture, Youth and Sports; Ministry of Infrastructure Development and Transportation; and Padawan Municipal Council.
This ceremony will be officiated by Puncak Borneo MP Willie Mongin.
“The programme is a part of FHTM’s corporate social responsibility initiative to contribute back to the community in Sarawak.
“With the aim to shape a betterqualified homestay owner, this project will focus on four areas namely homestays, education, networking and scholarships,” UCSI University Sarawak said in a statement made available yesterday.
The project is expected to provide various knowledgetransfer activities to homestay owners specifically in terms of soft and hard skills relating to the homestay industry.
By the end of the training programme, homestay owners will have enhanced skills to conduct a variety of functions in their homestays in a more professional manner.
In this project’s context, it is important to note that ‘Homestay’ is defined as the place where tourists stay with the host’s family and experience the everyday way of life of the family in both a direct and indirect manner, the statement said.
The Dean of the Faculty of Hospitality and Tourism Management and President of MyCenTHE, Ministry of Education ( MoE) Prof Dr Kashif Hussain stated that the Sarawak Next Paradise Homestay Workshop 2018 will boost tourism activities in Sarawak as homestays are one of the most popular tourist accommodation options. Furthermore, associated natural, cultural and heritage tourism products also provide tremendous attractions.
With all the training and seminars conducted by the experts, he believed that homestay operators and local villagers will gain better insight into the homestay industry and will be able to increase the quality of their homestays, providing welcoming hospitality for their guests.
UCSI University Sarawak Campus chief operating officer Mukvinder Sandhu said that Sarawak Next Paradise Homestay Workshop 2018 will give tremendous benefits to the homestay operators and villagers in the Padawan area as it will provide knowledge regarding homestays, hospitality and tourism.
He added students from UCSI University are also the beneficiaries of this event as they will be given opportunities to manage and operate an event which will also help them to learn and prepare themselves for the future through hands- on experience.
MyCenTHE Sarawak Region cluster leader Bernard Stephen Jussem felt that by organising the first Sarawak Next Paradise Homestay Workshop 2018 in Padawan, with the support of important government agencies, information and guidelines for setting up homestays will be addressed.
“Optimistically we should be able to generate more qualified and registered homestay owners in Sarawak, to be specific in the Padawan area. One of the objectives of this workshop is to increase numbers of student enrolment in the hospitality and tourism programmes in Sarawak generally.”
Among the activities taking place are a sharing session by successful homestay operators in Padawan to villagers and prospective homestay operators along with four workshops. The workshops are on topics like focusing on guidelines for homestay operations, activities or tourist attractions, maintenance and facilities and security and environment.
Apart from the sharing session and workshops, there will be a mini workshop on mocktail making, fruit flambé and napkin folding – targeting secondary school students from around Kuching.
Sarawak Next Paradise Homestay chairperson Sherrymina Kichin strongly encouraged all those who are invited to take the opportunity to come and participate in various knowledge- transfer activities provided by the experts as well as successful homestay operators.
For further information on SNHP, contact Karen Kong on 0165529738 or email her at 1301748375@ student.ucsiuniversity.edu.my.
UCSI University Sarawak Campus houses the Faculty of Hospitality and Tourism Management (FHTM), the Faculty of Business and Information Science ( FOBIS) and the Centre for Pre U Studies (CPU).
FHTM offers three degree programmes – BA ( Hons) in Commerce, BA ( Hons) in Event and Tourism Management, and BA ( Hons) in Hospitality Management.
Diploma programmes are also available including Diploma in Hotel Management, Diploma in Culinary Arts and Diploma in Leisure Management.
FOBIS offers Diploma in International Business, BCom ( Hons) in Accounting & Finance, and BCom ( Hons) in Marketing while CPU offers Foundation Studies in both Arts and Science, which provide an excellent pathway to furthering one’s studies in Medicine and Health Sciences, Pharmacy, Architecture, Engineering, Social Sciences and Applied Science.
For more information on events and courses available at UCSI University Sarawak Campus, call its official line on 082- 596965 or visit www.ucsiuniversity.edu. my.