By DayakDaily Team
KUCHING, Oct 14: Serumpun Sarawak returned to Mulu for a cultural crossroads of nature, heritage, and local flavour.
Sarawak Tourism Board (STB) chief executive officer Sharzede Datu Salleh Askor said the return of Serumpun Sarawak to Mulu is symbolic, bringing the world home to Sarawak’s heritage.
“Through this initiative, we celebrate Sarawak not only as a destination of natural wonders but as a source of wisdom—where culture, cuisine, and conservation are inseparable. It is a reminder that sustainability begins with respect: for people, for place, and for purpose,” she said in a statement.
The programme is to unite Sarawak’s Indigenous communities, culinary artisans, and creative practitioners in a showcase that reaffirmed the State’s position as a global leader in sustainable cultural tourism and regenerative storytelling.
Hosted by the Ministry of Tourism, Creative Industry and Performing Arts Sarawak (MTCP) and Sarawak Tourism Board (STB), the event ran from Oct 2 to 4 at Mulu Marriott Resort & Spa.
Serumpun Sarawak in Mulu embodied the principle of hyperlocalisation, reinforcing STB’s commitment to responsible tourism that uplifts communities while preserving the integrity of the environment.
Featuring various activities namely leadership salons, cultural showcases, and immersive dining experiences, illustrating the harmony between Sarawak’s biodiversity and its multicultural heritage.
Highlighting the event, Chef James Won curated a 7-course gastronomic journey in collaboration with Sarawak’s Indigenous food custodians representing a dialogue between modern culinary innovation and ancestral memory, inspired by the collective wisdom of Sarawak’s 34 ethnic communities.
The event was further intensified by Prof Gerard Bodeker who reflected on the medicinal and therapeutic properties of Sarawak’s native ingredients deepened the evening’s connection between wellness, ecology and nature.
Another key segment, ‘The Serumpun Salon: Conversations in the Rainforest’, explored how Indigenous wisdom aligns with global sustainability frameworks such as ESG (Environmental, Social, Governance).
Among the panellists were ESG Institute founder Joanne Flinn and other thought leaders who highlighted Sarawak’s community-based practices as global models for regenerative tourism.
The showcase also featured inspiring local enterprises including The Tuyang Initiative, CHASS, Earthlings Coffee, Dayak Lore, Penang Basket, Awing, Bera Adam Ba’kelalan and Sav —each representing Sarawak’s craftsmanship and cultural economy.
The night concluded with a moving performance of Ilun Kuai, Serumpun Sarawak’s official theme song, performed by Adrian Jo Milang and co-created with Zee Avi, Raja Farouk and the Atlas Collective team.
“Serumpun Sarawak is more than a cultural showcase it is a living archive of Sarawak’s identity, proving that sustainability, creativity and culture can coexist as forces for inclusive growth,” said STB. — DayakDaily
