CALL FOR PROPER FISHING FACILITIES FOR HOMESTAY PROGRAMMES

THE BORNEO POST April 2, 2010, Friday

SIBU: Proper fishing facilities should be made available if fishing is to become part of the attraction in homestay programmes, said freelance lecturer Jefrey Bujang.Speaking to The Borneo Post yesterday, Jefrey said for now operators dared not promote fishing because the right infrastructure was still unavailable.
“Operators can’t allow visitors to go out there because anything can happen. Indeed if anything untoward does happen, it will destroy the homestay programmes,” Jefrey said.
“However, for local visitors keen to go fishing, they need to make arrangement with the operators,” he added.
Jefrey also pointed out that guests usually stayed three days and two nights only, which was considered short duration. He said it was “too challenging” to roll out too many activities in such short period.
He, however, said fishing was part of the itinerary if the homestay was located near the beach or river fronts.
The focus here would be more on beach activities with safety of tourists given priority.
Asked if foreign tourists would be disappointed if a homestay did not have internet connection, he said they would not mind.
He, however, said it would be a bonus to the guests if the homestay had one as guests would want to update on their itinerary or flight schedule.
“Over the years, based on my knowledge, there was no complaint of such nature received,” Jefrey said, adding that foreign tourists normally wanted to be free of the city kind of hassles.