By Zareef Muzammil
SHAH ALAM, Jan 23 — Tourism Selangor has encouraged the involvement of communities and agencies to strengthen the state’s agrotourism.
Its chief executive officer Azrul Shah Mohamad said that community-based agrotourism can both stimulate the state’s economy and give visitors an engaging experience.
“Community-based tourism is anticipated to enhance this industry by introducing new concepts to visitors from abroad as well as within the nation.
“It is also expected to boost the state’s economy, particularly agriculture, farming, and small and medium-sized businesses,” he said, adding that the state’s tourism agency collaborated with 21 community hosts and six local governments last year for the community host programme.
Azrul also said that a number of potential locations for the development of agrotourism, which include Sungai Panjang Agro Tourism (SPAT), the Sekinchan Tourism Development Association and the Dengkil People’s Welfare Association (Persatuan Kebajikan Rakyat Mukim Dengkil).
He said other areas include Inap Desa Sungai Sireh in Kuala Selangor, Homestay Haji Dorani and Inap Desa Banghuris.
“SPAT, which is managed by the Young Entrepreneur Community Integration Association, focuses on improving the socioeconomic status of the local population, especially the youth and women in Sungai Panjang and the surrounding areas.
“Visitors can personally experience community-based tourism concepts such as excursions to gardens maintained by more than 25 commercial farm operators.
“At the same time, they can experience the greenery of the paddy fields by cycling and riding a tram or using an all-terrain vehicle (ATV) provided by a nearby homestay operator,” he added.
The Selangor Budget 2023 allocates RM500,000 for the development of agrotourism under the Selangor Agro Transformation Plan (PeTA), which is the core of the state’s agriculture sector.
