By Christine T
KUCHING, Oct 1: The Sarawak Borneo Craft Festival is targeting RM3 million in sales and 125,000 visitors when it takes place from Oct 23 to Nov 1 as part of the Sarawak Regatta-Kuching Waterfront Festival 2026.
Minister for Tourism, Creative Industry and Performing Arts Dato Sri Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah said the sales target was higher than the RM2.4 million recorded during last year’s festival, reflecting expectations of stronger visitor turnout this year.
“Last year, RM2.4 million was achieved. This year, we are setting a target of RM3 million. We should be able to hit the target, the way I see it,” he said during a press conference on the Sarawak Regatta-Kuching Waterfront Festival 2026 held at the Baitulmakmur II Building here today.
Led by the Malaysian Handicraft Development Corporation (Kraftangan Malaysia) Sarawak branch and involving the Sarawak Craft Council, the festival will feature 43 tents with participating entrepreneurs from Sarawak, Sabah and Peninsular Malaysia.
Themed “Ini Kraf Malaysia” and carrying the concept “Kraf Identiti Malaysia”, the festival will feature craft sales, exhibitions, demonstrations, business matching, knowledge-sharing sessions, entrepreneurship talks and stage performances.
Abdul Karim said the craft venue would once again be fully air-conditioned to provide a more comfortable environment for visitors to browse and shop.
Beyond the craft offerings, the 10-day waterfront programme will also feature food, music and cultural performances, giving visitors different attractions throughout the festival.
“There is always something for you. You choose which night you want to attend, then come and enjoy that night,” he said.
Meanwhile, the Showcase Usahawan Sarawak, led by the Sarawak Ministry of International Trade and Investment (MINTRED), will run throughout the festival from Oct 23 to Nov 1.
A total of 50 lots will be available, comprising 40 food and beverage lots and 10 spaces for Sarawak micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs).
The food component will consist of 32 food stalls and eight beverage stalls, with activities including a Best Entrepreneur competition, local artiste performances, busking, cultural performances, cooking and food demonstrations and competitions, make-up competitions, fruit-eating campaigns, quizzes, happy-hour promotions, lucky draws, business matching sessions and TikTok live selling.
The cultural programme will begin on Oct 23 with Malam Budaya Se-Borneo, featuring performances from Sarawak, Sabah, Brunei, Kalimantan Barat and Kalimantan Timur.
From Oct 24 to 29, the programme will continue with talent, music, singing, band and ethnic fashion events, including Kids Talent Night, Sound of Borneo, Waterfront Idol, Sarawak Got Talent, Battle of the Band and Creative Ethnic Fashion Competition.
Invited artistes expected to perform throughout the programme include Anggrek (Oct 24), Ernie Zakri (Oct 26), Mawat (Oct 27), Mus May (Oct 28) and Aina Abdul (Oct 29).
The Festival Gendang Melayu Sarawak will then take place from Oct 30 to Nov 1 at the Regatta Cultural Stage, featuring Bermukun, Sarawak Malay drum performances, sape music, buskers and cultural performances by Sarawak’s ethnic communities.
Abdul Karim said the Malay drum festival had consistently attracted large crowds, particularly during its final night.
“This is one of the events that I see attracting many visitors every year, especially during the final. Sometimes, I think there could be as many as 10,000 people,” he said.
The Sarawak Borneo Craft Festival and other waterfront programmes form part of the wider Sarawak Regatta-Kuching Waterfront Festival 2026, which will also feature the Sarawak International Dragon Boat Festival and Sarawak Regatta along the Sarawak River.
Also present were Deputy Minister for Tourism, Datuk Sebastian Ting Chiew Yew; Deputy Minister for Creative Industry and Performing Arts, Datuk Snowdan Lawan; and Ministry of Tourism, Creative Industry and Performing Arts (MTCP) permanent secretary Morshidi Fredrick. — DayakDaily
