Tan Sri Mohd Sidek Hassan

At Your ServiceThrough the MWW programme, more than 20,000 front-liners were trained onhow to become gracious hosts. In essence, all facets of the community make thereal front-liners in the tourism industry.Tourism is the second largest foreign exchange earner, bringing in RM49.6bil lastyear. In addition, it is a multi-sectored industry which consists of transportation,accommodation, restaurants, recreation, entertainment, retailers, handicraft andtour agencies.The multitude of industry linkages brings significant benefits in terms of employmentand income creation.In 2007, the tourism industry provided employment for almost one million people,generating a total output or revenue of RM103bil. Tourism also provides a platformfor realising socio-economic and distributive benefit policies.Community-based tourism principles areapplied in the implementation of homestayand eco-tourism programmes. Communitybasedtourism strengthens the ability of ruralcommunities to manage tourism resources,earn their own income while ensuring localparticipation.The homestay concept offers tourists an experience to learn firsthand the culture,heritage and lifestyle of Malaysia. This programme involves the participation of therural community in providing experiential learning activities such as rubber tapping,traditional songs, dance and crafts as well as serving local dishes. Currently, thereare 140 homestay programmes, participated by 3,287 operators.In the first half of the year, an additional income of RM5mil was generated from thesehomestay operators. The operators have been trained to attend to guests, learn thebasics of several foreign languages, meal preparation methods and housekeeping.Welcoming tourists to our nature and eco-sites has also been given due importance.Towards this end, ecotourism has been developed as a niche tourism product. Itproduces income and employment for the local communities while encouraging126