By DayakDaily Team
KUCHING, June 1: The vibrant spirit of the Gawai Dayak festival filled Sarawak’s airports today as Tourism Malaysia, in collaboration with Malaysia Airports Holdings Berhad (MAHB), hosted festive celebrations at Kuching International Airport and Sibu Airport.
According to a media release, these events, held in conjunction with the Visit Malaysia 2026 (VM2026) campaign, aimed to share the unique cultural joy of Gawai with domestic and international travellers.
Passengers arriving at the arrival hall were warmly greeted and offered festive goodies, including the iconic Sarawak ‘kek lapis’ (layered cake) and promotional materials for VM2026.
Agatha Ting, special officer to the Minister of Tourism, Arts, and Culture (Dato Seri Tiong King Sing), with Rubiah Tul’Adwiyah Md Yusof, director of Tourism Malaysia Sarawak, along with representatives from partner agencies and tourism associations joined the celebration at the Sibu Airport, where guests and passengers were also treated to captivating cultural performances by a local dance troupe, showcasing Sarawak’s rich heritage.
Celebrated annually on June 1 and 2, Gawai Dayak is part of Tourism Malaysia’s efforts to promote the essence of Sarawak’s rich cultural tapestry, inviting everyone to join in the festivities and experience the warmth of Malaysian hospitality.
In 2024, Malaysia welcomed 38 million international visitors—a 31.1 per cent increase from 2023 and 8.3 per cent above pre-pandemic 2019 levels.
Visitor receipts also surged, generating RM106.78 billion, reflecting a substantial 43.7 per cent growth over 2023 and exceeding 2019 figures by 20 per cent.
This positive trend has continued into early 2025, with the first four months recording 13.4 million visitor arrivals, a 21.0 per cent year-on-year increase.
From January to April 2025, Singapore remained the top visitor-generating market, followed by Indonesia, China, Thailand, India, Brunei, South Korea, Philippines, Australia and the United Kingdom. — DayakDaily
