BATU PAHAT: Johor has come up with its own rural tourism product called DesaStay which provides a kampung experience for tourists.

Launched by Johor Mentri Besar Datuk Mohamed Khaled Nordin, he said that DesaStay was different from the homestay concept as it involves the participation of the whole village.

Mohamed Khaled said the programme, which involves 32 villages, aims to showcase the village experience especially traditional rites and rituals as well as a chance to try out the unique food cooked by the locals.

“Tourists will be able to get a first-hand feel of the village way of life such as weddings, funerals and festive celebrations,” he said, adding that they just need to take their pick on the DesaStay website.

“Foreign tourists do not just want to see development and theme parks in places they are visiting.

“Even locals who are staying in major cities and towns would love the rural experience and simple kampung life,” he said during a special cultural ceremony in Kampung Parit Tengah, Rengit, here on Saturday.

Mohamed Khaled said tourism was one of the state’s focuses hoped that the new product would put Johor on the world map for rural tourism.

“We would set aside funds in the next state budget to teach villagers basic English so that they could interact better with foreign visitors and improve existing infrastructure of participating villages,” he said.

State Tourism, Domestic Trade and Consumerism Committee chairman Datuk Tee Siew Kiong has been tasked to draw up a proposal.