By DayakDaily Team
KUCHING, May 21: A delegation from Sarawak, comprising officials from the Sarawak government, non-governmental organisations (NGOs) representing Dayak communities, and members of the Gawai Dayak Sarawak Celebration 2024 Working Committee, recently visited Singapore to promote the exciting activities planned for the upcoming Gawai Dayak Celebration in Kuching and neighbouring areas.
According to a press release, Dato Sri Roland Sagah Wee Inn, Sarawak Minister for Education, Innovation, and Talent Development (MEITD), launched the ‘Sarawak Gawai Dayak Celebration 2024 Roadshow’ on May 20, at the Sarawak Trade and Tourism Office Singapore (Statos) Building in Singapore.
Sagah, who is also the chairman of the Gawai Dayak Sarawak Celebration 2024 Working Committee, said: “The Gawai Dayak Roadshow opens the door to welcome tourists and business travellers from Singapore. In a nutshell, it showcases the wide range of exciting activities planned for visitors—this will enable them to experience and enjoy Sarawak’s treasure trove of unique cultures and rich heritage.
“With tremendous support from the High Commission of Malaysia (HCM) in Singapore, Tourism Malaysia, and Statos, we are able to provide firsthand information about Gawai Dayak to the residents in Singapore.”
He noted that the Gawai Dayak festival takes place after the rice harvest and is a time to express gratitude for the abundance gathered, with the hope of a plentiful harvest in the coming season.
“The celebration of Gawai Dayak brings several positive impacts to the society and the nation as a whole such as Education and Cultural Understanding, Cultural Preservation and Promotion, Community Development and Entrepreneurship, and Environmental Management and Conservation.
“We have so many experiential programmes to offer, and since Kuching is in close proximity to Singapore, which is only 1 hour and 30 minutes away, I am pleased to invite not only tourists but also fellow Malaysians residing in Singapore to come home and participate in the Gawai Dayak celebration,” Sagah was quoted as saying.
Following the roadshow’s launch, morning and afternoon sessions were held to promote various packages for tourists and business travellers looking to experience Sarawak’s unique cultures and heritage.
During her presentation, Amelia Roziman, chief executive officer (CEO) of Business Events Sarawak (BESarawak), shared that the three main packages would enable tourists and delegates to experience Sarawak’s multicultural mosaic, which includes the Bidayuh, Iban, and Orang Ulu communities.
“The Bidayuh and Orang Ulu packages were created by BESarawak for team building and theme party ideas targeting corporate groups, as well as social night activity ideas for conventions and exhibitions.
“The Iban package was created by the Sarawak Tourism Federation for leisure tourists,” the press release stated.
The roadshow’s highlights included ‘Synergistic Engagement Sessions’ with various stakeholders such as tour agents, government officials, and local community representatives.
A diverse range of Sarawak-made products were on display, including rice wine (tuak), delectable treats, cookies, herbs, authentic pepper varieties, and handicrafts.
“As part of the State-level Gawai Dayak Celebrations 2024, major events include the Gawai Dayak Bazaar (May 16–May 26) in MJC Batu Kawa Kuching, Gawai Dayak Carnival (June 6–June 9) at Siburan, Serian, and Gawai Dayak Cultural Parade (June 15) at the Kuching Waterfront.
“The Sarawak government will also feature the aforementioned events in a Gawai Dayak Coffee Table Book and Tourism Brochure 2024, to be launched in September.”
Also present at the launch were MEITD Sarawak deputy minister Datuk Francis Harden Hollis, who also heads the publication of the Gawai Dayak Coffee Table Book 2024, MEITD deputy permanent secretary Anielia Siam, and Secretary I of the Working Committee, HE Dato Dr Azfar Mohamad Mustafar, High Commissioner of Malaysia to Singapore, Mohana Murni Shanmugam, Deputy Director, Tourism Malaysia Singapore, Chew Chang Guan, CEO of STATOS, representatives from the Dayak communities and Sarawak Skills, and the Working Committee Members of the Gawai Dayak Coffee Table Book and Tourism Brochure 2024.
For more information about the aforementioned tourism packages, contact Gloria Pahang, senior BESarawak business development executive, at gloria@sarawakcb.com or call +6017 8511351. — DayakDaily
