GEORGE TOWN: The home-stay programme has been given a boost by the Tourism Ministry when a grant was approved to spruce up the toilet facilities of all participating houses nationwide.

For a start, RM400,000 has been allocated to 200 houses registered under the Penang Homestay Association and more funds would be disbursed according to the needs of each participant.

Tourism Minister Datuk Seri Azalina Othman Said said more grants would be distributed to 1,700 homestay participants nationwide for toilet maintenance and renovation, and for promotional activities.

“Our aim is to give guests at homestays five-star toilet facilities,” Azalina said at the launching of state Zoom Homestay programme yesterday in Balik Pulau.

She said efforts to promote Malaysia’s homestay would be intensified in Europe and the United States to bring over more visitors who are interested in a traditional village experience.

She predicted that tourists would still come to Malaysia despite the worldwide economic recession.

The recent political turmoil in Thailand for instance, had led to 2.5 million touristscoming to Malaysia in December, the highest number of arrivals in a single month last year.