Sarawak longhouses could become next frontier of high-value tourism

Ouyang Yujing (left) and Datuk Seri Tiong King Sing (second left) join members of the local community in a traditional miring ceremony during a Gawai Dayak celebration, offering international guests a firsthand experience of Dayak cultural heritage.

By DayakDaily Team

KUCHING, June 4: Sarawak’s longhouses could emerge as the next frontier of high-value tourism, offering authentic cultural experiences increasingly sought after by international travellers, says Tourism, Arts and Culture Minister Datuk Seri Tiong King Sing.

He said the State’s unique longhouse culture, traditions and community lifestyle position Sarawak strongly to capitalise on the growing global demand for immersive and experience-based travel through the Malaysia Homestay Experience Programme under the Ministry of Tourism, Arts and Culture (MOTAC).

“Tourists today are no longer looking only for beautiful places to take photographs. They want authentic experiences and meaningful stories, and this is something Sarawak can offer better than many destinations around the world,” he said after attending a Gawai Dayak Open House at Rumah Panjang (Rh) Esther Patrick Jaya in Sibu recently.

The celebration was attended by Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the People’s Republic of China to Malaysia, Ouyang Yujing, and wife Song Xiao Mei, international tourists, media familiarisation (FAM) trip participants, community leaders and local residents.

According to Tiong, longhouses offer visitors a rare opportunity to immerse themselves in Dayak culture through traditional food, cultural performances, community interactions and daily life experiences that cannot be easily replicated elsewhere.

He said Sarawak’s longhouses possess a unique combination of identity, history and living heritage, making them a tourism product with significant value in the international market.

For this reason, he believes more longhouses should participate in the Malaysia Homestay Experience Programme, which allows tourists to stay with local communities and experience their customs and traditions firsthand.

“Through this programme, tourists not only enjoy traditional food and cultural performances but also have the opportunity to live alongside the community, interact with local residents and experience the Dayak way of life for themselves,” he said.

During the visit, Tiong and the guests also took part in the traditional miring ceremony, providing international visitors, including the Chinese ambassador, with a firsthand experience of a cultural practice passed down through generations of the Dayak community.

He noted that although the Dayak community comprises various ethnic groups and cultural backgrounds, the values reflected in the ceremony remain universal — gratitude, well-being and hopes for a better future.

Tiong said the participation of foreign visitors in such cultural activities demonstrates the growing appeal of Sarawak’s heritage tourism offerings and highlights the importance of preserving cultural traditions as a tourism asset.

Beyond tourism, he said well-preserved cultural heritage can become a sustainable source of income for rural communities through homestays, handicrafts, traditional cuisine, cultural performances and other community-based tourism activities.

Apart from attending the celebration at Rh Esther Patrick Jaya, Tiong also visited Rh Bolbo Kamat Ubong and Rh Bunsie Tiboh.

He said the longhouses exemplify how Dayak communities continue to progress alongside development without neglecting the customs, traditions and cultural values inherited from previous generations.

Tiong also described celebrations such as Gawai Dayak as a reflection of Malaysia’s stability, harmony and multiculturalism, where people from different backgrounds are able to live together in mutual respect and understanding.

He expressed hope that more longhouses across Sarawak would seize the opportunities available through the Malaysia Homestay Experience Programme to attract greater numbers of domestic and international visitors while creating economic benefits for local communities. — DayakDaily