HOMESTAY PROGRAM AND ITS EFFECTS TOWARDS SOCIO-ECONOMY DEVELOPMENT IN KAMPUNG SUNGAI SIREH HOMESTAY, TANJONG KARANG, SELANGOR

Abstract

Homestay or “inap desa” is one of tourism products that contributes to economic growth in the tourism industry in Malaysia. Homestay program provides an alternative to accommodation options for tourists; by staying with selected local host families. This opens up opportunity to directly experience the daily lifestyle, culture and heritage of Malaysia. The tourists will have an opportunity to interact and experience the daily lifestyle of the hosts as well as shared values of the local people. This paper aimed to investigate the administration of homestay and its effects on the socio-economic of communities in the Kampung Sungai Sireh, Kuala Selangor Malaysia. This program has a major impact to the local communities especially in the socio-economic aspect and has increased local communities’ income directly or indirectly.