By DayakDaily Team
KUCHING, June 3: The Ministry of Tourism, Arts, and Culture (Motac) is exploring the potential of turning longhouses into homestays to offer travellers an up-close experience of Sarawak’s unique indigenous culture.
Motac minister Dato Seri Tiong King Sing said cultural tourism should go beyond passive observation and serve as a meaningful way to preserve and promote heritage.
“Cultural tourism isn’t just about watching from the sidelines.
“It is a meaningful way to preserve and carry on our cultural heritage, the Gawai spirit, the authentic cuisine, and the traditional crafts of the Dayak community,” he said in a statement.
Tiong, who is also Bintulu MP, said that turning longhouses into homestays would not only benefit visitors, but also allow villagers to gain directly and help uplift the local rural economy.
“If your longhouse is interested in developing into a homestay, feel free to reach out to me or the local Bintulu officers.
“We’d be happy to explore this together and work towards a win-win development of culture and economy,” he added.
Tiong, who also serves as Dudong assemblyman, further encouraged residents to contact his team if they have any upgrade or development plans for their longhouses.
“Let’s move forward hand in hand. As long as we stay united, respect one another, and support each other—not just minding our own backyard—our nation will surely continue to progress,” he said.
Meanwhile, Tiong resumed his Gawai Dayak visits on the second day of the celebration.
The longhouses visited included Rumah Joseph ak Gima, Rumah Moses ak Kamarau, Rumah Joshua Manit ak Bayu, Rumah Unji ak Brain, and Rumah Emi ak Mesa. — DayakDaily
