By DayakDaily Team
KUCHING, Sept 28: Business event delegates visiting Sarawak are being taken beyond conventional tourism experiences and into local communities, as the State looks to make business events more meaningful for both visitors and the people they meet.
The approach was showcased through the five-day Sarawak Beyond 2026: Destination Discovery Programme (SBDDP2026), organised by Business Events Sarawak (BESarawak), which concluded on Sept 25.
Held in conjunction with BESarawak’s 20th anniversary week, the programme brought together 25 delegates from Portugal, Hong Kong, Australia, the Philippines, Singapore and Malaysia, including corporate representatives, association presidents, conference owners, incentive houses and media partners.
Instead of focusing solely on Sarawak’s culture, nature, adventure, gastronomy and festivals, the programme gave delegates opportunities to engage directly with the people and communities behind these experiences.
Deputy Minister for Creative Industry and Performing Arts Sarawak Datuk Snowdan Lawan said Sarawak’s strength lay not only in what delegates could see, but also in what they could experience first-hand.
“Sarawak is a place where an event can become an experience that people can remember and be inspired by,” he reportedly said at the White Rajah Networking Dinner held at the Brooke Dockyard Industrial Heritage Museum on Sept 24.
Snowdan said Sarawak’s culture, nature, adventure, food and festivals were not simply attractions, but could serve as gateways for business event groups to understand the State through its people and communities.
He said values such as community, hospitality, respect, togetherness and strong relationships could give delegates a deeper understanding of Sarawak and its people.
“When delegates spend time with our communities, they begin to understand why relationships matter so much here, why people remain closely connected and why industries are growing in Sarawak.
“These values are significant for today’s rapidly changing business event environment,” he added.
One example was the delegates’ visit with youths from Heart Treasures Kuching, a social enterprise supporting young people with intellectual disabilities.
The delegates took part in an art therapy session with the youths, providing an opportunity for direct interaction and participation outside the usual business-event setting.
BESarawak chief executive officer Jason Tan Chin Foo said the value of business events should extend beyond the experience of delegates to what their presence could contribute to the destination.
“A meaningful experience should create value for organisers, delegates and the destination. We want them to leave Sarawak with memorable experiences, but we also want the communities they engage with to benefit from having them here,” he said.
Jason said BESarawak was working to connect business event groups with local communities, non-governmental organisations (NGOs) and social enterprises for corporate social responsibility and impact programmes.
He stressed that such engagements had to be carried out respectfully, with the needs of the communities taken into account.
“We work with them to understand where groups can contribute meaningfully and how the engagement can create value for the community itself. That is the kind of event experience we want Sarawak to be known for,” he said.
Beyond community engagement, the delegates also experienced Sarawak’s business events infrastructure, destination venues, cultural activities, wellness offerings, gastronomy, heritage and networking opportunities.
The historic Brooke Dockyard Industrial Heritage Museum was also used to demonstrate how Sarawak’s heritage spaces could double as distinctive venues for business events.
Hosting the White Rajah Networking Dinner at the museum allowed delegates to network while experiencing Sarawak’s history, heritage and identity in the same setting.
BESarawak said SBDDP2026 formed part of its wider effort to strengthen Sarawak’s competitiveness as a business events destination by bringing organisers and media partners closer to its communities, heritage and way of life.
The initiative aims to create business event experiences that are more distinctive and authentic, while allowing delegates to contribute meaningfully to the communities they encounter. — DayakDaily
