ASEAN Community-Based Tourism and Homestay Standard Briefing Session

Background and Purpose:

STB Product Division organized the ASEAN Community-Based Tourism & Homestay Standard in collaboration with the Ministry of Tourism, Arts & Culture Malaysia on 14 March 2023 at Hilton Hotel, Kota Kinabalu. Also present were YBhg. Datuk Sr. Hj. Mohd. Yusrie Abdullah, Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Tourism, Culture and Environment, FERTAS EXCO, Members of Sabah Homestay Association, CoBT & Homestays Product owners, DBKK, MPS and MPT. ASEAN Tourism Standard is an agreement between 10 Southeast Asian countries (Thailand, Malaysia, Vietnam, Cambodia, Brunei Darussalam, Lao DPR, Myanmar, Indonesia, Philippines, and Singapore) through the ASEAN regional organization in creating a tourism standard that is internationally recognized for all member countries with the aim of improving quality and the quality of tourism services and products in the region.

Main Objective

The ASEAN activities on standards and conformance aim at creating a single market and production base, in which there is a free flow of goods and fully integrated into the global economy with effective facilitation of trade.

STB Objective

To update the module and educate the CBT and Homestay owners and the district tourism associations on the importance of ASEAN Standards to achieve the KPIs and SGDs by the year 2030.

There are seven (7) standard initiatives in this program that includes:

1. Green Hotels
2. Food and Beverage Services
3. Public Restrooms
4. Homestays
5. Eco-tourism
6. Tourism Heritage
7. Community-Based Tourism

The topic for ASEAN Community-Based Tourism Standard:

1. Community ownership and management
2. Contribution to social well-being
3. Conserving and improving the environment
4. Encouraging interaction between the local community and guests
5. Quality tour and guiding services
6. Ensuring quality food and beverage services
7. Ensuring quality accommodations
8. Ensuring the performance of in-bound CBT Friendly Tour Operators

The topic for ASEAN Homestay Standard:

1. Host
2. Accommodation
3. Activities
4. Management
5. Location
6. Hygiene and Cleanliness
7. Safety and Security
8. Marketing and Promotion
9. Sustainable principals