Malaysia is gearing up to sell rustic homestays to schools, universities, women’s groups, professionals and families in India.
A Tourism Malaysia delegation met school and college authorities, corporates, professional groups and trade bodies in Bengaluru, Chennai, New Delhi, Mumbai, Kochi, and Amritsar to showcase the country’s diverse rustic homestay options spread under 212 clusters across 474 villages where 3,120 homestay entrepreneurs are spearheading the sector.
Homestays currently account for 5% of Malaysia’s tourism business while the foray into India may help the country double the share to 10% by 2025.
Focus on India, China
Malaysia is currently able to attract only 50,000 foreign students. India and China will be its focus geographies to grow the sector considerably, according to Razaidi ABD Rahim, Director, South India and Sri Lanka, Consulate General of Malaysia (Malaysia Tourism Promotion Board).
A robust air connectivity to India makes Malaysia buoyant on prospects of selling homestays to India.
There are 172 direct flights between various Indian cities and Kuala Lumpur every week, between Malaysian Airlines, Air Asia, IndiGo and Batik Air, with a seating capacity of more than 35,000.
Chennai alone has 35 direct flights to Kuala Lumpur every week.