Datuk Patinggi Abang Johari Tun Openg – File photo

KUCHING: The Sarawak government is looking into the possibility of turning certain apartments into bed-and-breakfast (B&B) accommodation to boost the local tourism industry.

In this regard, Chief Minister Datuk Patinggi Abang Johari Tun Openg says he has asked the Ministry of Local Government and Housing, as well as the Ministry of Tourism, Arts and Culture, to study this trend, which has already been established in Indonesia, Australia and many parts of Europe.

“In Indonesia, for example, there are already two types of accommodation available – hotels, which are normally for businesses; and bungalows or apartments for leisure, where any family can rent and stay together in.

“Australia is already using it, and Europe is also using that now. In Europe, they called it a ‘sharing basis accommodation’,” he said during a press conference held after launching the ‘P’ Residence Block Pandelela’ in Batu Kawah here yesterday.

Abang Johari said apartment owners in Sarawak could also provide this type of accommodation to tourists, but this must be done within certain rules.

According to him, at the moment the Sarawak government has yet to draft any regulation regarding this ‘sharing basis accommodation’ – it would need to study those being exercised Australia and perhaps, in neighbouring countries like Indonesia and Singapore.

“The government has to issue licences (that would allow unit holders) to operate this kind of accommodation, to ensure that the safety is there. We must identify a good one for the service,” he said.

Abang Johari, however, said it would be up to the individual owners should they want to rent out their properties as B&B accommodation.

Still, they would need to register with the Ministry of Local Government and Housing, as well as with the Ministry of Tourism, Arts and Culture, to make sure that they would follow the rules and also to prevent abuse, said the chief minister.

Adding on, he regarded B&B accommodation as ‘being similar to a homestay, but on a higher level’.

He believed that the establishment of more B&B accommodation services would boost the sales of properties because people would invest more by buying apartment units.

“If we could provide this type of accommodation with consideration to the tourists’ affordability in terms of rent, people would come and rent (out their properties) and they (tourists) can enjoy our facilities.

“This type of accommodation is especially needed in medical tourism, because when a family member is being treated in the hospital, the rest (of the family) can stay in a rented house or apartment unit,” he said.

On a related note, Abang Johari said Minister of Local Government and Housing Datuk Dr Sim Kui Hian would be looking into the possibility of building a lodging house slated for the rural folk, whose family members were being treated at Sarawak General Hospital (SGH) here.

He said those from the rural areas would need this kind of accommodation, which should come with a very affordable rate.

“They come here to accompany their sick family members, but they have no place to stay.

“At the moment, many of them have to sleep along the corridors outside the wards.

“We pity these people, so we are looking into it. Actually, we have identified a place for that (lodging house for the rural folk),” said Abang Johari.