This Content Is Only For Subscribers
By Wilfred Pilo
KUCHING, June 21: Residents of the riverine longhouse of Rumah Guyu Nanga Ukom in Ulu Engakari, Lubok Antu want to share their home with the world through tourism.
Deputy longhouse chief Jabu Luyau says that they want to share not just their longhouse and its natural surroundings with visitors, but also their rich tribal culture.
While the residents are resilient in eking out a living in this rural location, Jabu said come what may, the longhouse residents have to balance between what they have and what the government can provide for them at the moment.
“We see tourism as the way forward for us and our rich culture, surrounding area as the ‘bait’ to lure visitors. It benefits everybody as we can showcase visitors our rich hospitality,” he said.
Jabu is optimistic about the idea as tourism could improve the residents’ socio-economic status and way of life in rural Sarawak.
“Our lives took a turn when our longhouse was gutted by a fire in 2015 which destroyed 25 doors at that time. In the devastation, we cling on and move on with life,” he told DayakDaily when met recently.
“We have no other place and home. We like to take it a day at a time, as there is no crystal ball to see the future. Even if we have one, we prefer to face the reality we have now to have a better future for us and our children.
“This is what the rural setting is all about. If we can change it (circumstances) for the better, we change it so that our fellow longhouse folks can move on with life,” he said.
Jabu said the longhouse residents have received encouragement from the government to become part of the tourism industry.
“(Personnel from) the Ministry of Tourism visited us. We are pleased as we have the resources—the natural flora and fauna—and can turn it all into an adventure setting for visitors.
“This longhouse and us ourselves are a real living museum, and visitors can interact with us and learn our way of life,” he said.
Jabu urged the government to expedite the provision of infrastructure, especially electricity so that the residents could do many more things for the longhouse.
“Then it would be smooth sailing for us to host tourists and participate in the tourism industry. I see tourism as a way for us as we mostly rely on farming and cash crops like pepper and rubber, and fishing.
“Our priority is to have a better life, especially for our children and (for them) to get a better education.
“Meanwhile, we have started and are in touch with a tour agency from Kuching. They have brought tourists to us. We also want to be fully committed and form a joint venture.”
Jabu also shared that the longhouse has WiFi access that works via solar energy, provided by the government, to connect with the outside world.
“if (round-the-clock) electricity is connected, it would be a gamechanger, and tourism could really work here. I am optimistic (we will get it), as the government’s contractor has put up the infrastructure for it,” he said.
Rumah Guyu Nanga Ukom is a riverine longhouse comprising 37 doors, with 161 residents who are mostly farmers.
The longhouse sits along the Engkari River in Lubok Antu and is a 15-minute boat ride from the Nanga Sapaya longhouse. It is also accessible by logging road or an hour’s boat ride from the Batang Ai hydro dam main jetty. — DayakDaily
