KUCHING: Annah Rais longhouse collects an average of RM120,000 in entry fees annually from tourists.
Annah Rais tourism coordinator with the Padawan Municipal Council (MPP) Councillor Edward Kurik said the longhouse remains one of the area’s top tourism draws.
“Every year, over 20,000 excursionists, mostly foreigners, visit the longhouse. I can say that the longhouse welcomes visitors almost every day throughout the year. So you see tourism is a potential gold mine in Annah Rais,” he said.
Adult visitors are charged RM8 each, while children are charged RM5 per entry.
Edward, who is from Annah Rais, said the fees are managed by the village security and development committee, which fixes the amount to be divided among the some 150 families.
“Over the last six years, each family has been receiving RM300 every year compared with only RM50 in the past. The RM300 is normally given in May, before Gawai,” he said.
Edward said the longhouse’s homestay programme has also been quite successful.
According to MPP’s records, Annah Rais’ homestay programme collected RM212,000 in 2012.
There are 15 registered homestays at the longhouse. Annah Rais is one of the oldest and best preserved Bidayuh longhouses.
Located about 60km from here, it is also the nearest and most accessible for visitors to the city.
The drive there passes beautiful limestone formations and scenic countryside fringed by hills and farms.
Aside from the unique architecture of the longhouse, guests can also enjoy the hot spring, a three-tier waterfall, jungle trekking or visit the pepper plantation and paddy fields nearby.
Read more: http://www.theborneopost.com/2014/05/03/annah-rais-collects-rm120k-fee-annually/#ixzz30bc8Rw6j
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