The bedrock of ASEAN’s ambitious tourism initiative
Located on the island of Borneo in South East Asia, Kuching, meaning “cat” in Malay language is the capital of Sarawak state of Malaysia, the country that is ranked among the top 25 competitive countries in the world, lead by Switzerland at number one. The natural destination for adventure loving souls, tourism contributes a large share to Sarawak’s economy. Kuching is the launching pad to some of the more popular tourist attractions including Gunung Mulu National Park, Orangutan and wildlife sanctuary, tribal villages, Miri and the Rainforest World Music Festival – the single event that attracts more than 20,000 music lovers from around the globe.
Kuching is the venue for the ASEAN (Association of South East Asian Nations) Tourism Forum (ATF) 2014 – a major travel event that gathers the ten ASEAN member countries (Brunei Darussalam, Cambodia, Indonesia, Lao PDR, Malaysia, Myanmar, Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam) on one platform to showcase and market travel and tourism products of this rich and diversified region. While International tourist numbers in 2013 grew by five per cent to reach a record 747 million worldwide, some 38 million more than in the same period of 2012, South-East Asia’s share was an impressive 12 per cent jump year-on-year (10 million new arrivals).
While International tourist numbers in 2013 grew by five per cent to reach a record 747 million worldwide, some 38 million more than in the same period of 2012, South-East Asia’s share was an impressive 12 per cent jump year-on-year (10 million new arrivals).
The travel event adopting the theme: “ASEAN – Advancing Tourism Together” primarily focused on the sustainable development of tourism and comprehending tourism initiatives and plans that could further support this decade’s mantra of “Tourism conserves, preserves and protects.” A panel of tourism experts was flown in to deliver key note addresses to disseminate knowledge through the attending delegates at the Forum – a gathering of over 1,600 delegates including about 150 ASEAN tourism ministers and officials, more than 500 ASEAN exhibitors, 500 international buyers, 100 international and local media as well as over 100 tourism trade visitors.
Locally called “Bumi Kenyaland” meaning the Land of the Hornbills, Sarawak is renowned of its conservation efforts and the breeding ground for orangutan. Iconic to the people of Sarawak, the official seal of the state symbolises the Rhinoceros Hornbill with its wings spread. The Ibanic tribal groups, particularly the people of Dayak, regard the Rhinoceros Hornbill the most supreme of all the birds in the world, which can survive, even in captivity, up to 90 years. The yellow-orange color beak of the bird with a slightly curved out shape was considered the sign of power and in the past, worn as a necklace by the chief. The bird’s feather was used to adorn their traditional costume or en suite the warrior’s weapon such as the spear, blow pipes, wooden shield and machete. Tribal people believed that the hornbill feather would give magical power to their weapon and thus a victorious battle. Rhinoceros Hornbill now totally protected species in Sarawak, found in abundant numbers in the rain forest of Mulu and also in tropical and sub tropical jungles. These large birds vary in size from 36 to 48 inches, almost as large as white swan, and weighing between 4.4 to 6.6 pounds.
Backed with a strong indigenous culture, historic accounts tell us that the Melanaus tribe have been thought to be amongst the original settlers of Sarawak. However, today they only form only six per cent of the local population. The Chinese were the first outsiders to have entered Sarawak as traders and settled down back in the 6th century AD. In this Christian dominant State of Malaysia, Chinese are known as non-Bumiputera ethnic group, the predominantly Chinese Buddhists make up 24 per cent of the population. The Sarawak Chinese belong to several different groups including Foochow, Hakka, Hainanese, Hokkien, Teochew and Puxian Min. They adhere to their inherited customs and traditions and fill colors to Sarawak culture with the celebration of the Chinese New Year and Hungry Ghost Festival. Today, Chinese have made a significant contribution in the tourism industry of Sarawak and particularly in Kuching, you will find Chinese temples, China Town, Chinese cemetery and a number of impressive Chinese architecture that submit a role-play to attract tourists.
While the Malays make up 23 per cent of the population and reside in the southern region and urban areas of Sarawak, different groups of tribal people are scattered throughout Sarawak. About eight per cent of the population, Bidayuhs reside on the Western end of Borneo. They speak either English or Sarawak Malay as their main language; however practice mother dialects and even today, practice ancestral religion. Orang Ulu (meaning up-river people) ethnic groups (also including Kenyah and Kayan people) and down-river tribes of the Lun Bawang, Lun Dayeh, dwell around the river and uphill areas in the districts of Baram, Belaga, Lawas, Limbang and Miri. The lesser known Punan Bah communities live in border areas – Sabah, Brunei and Indonesia. This tribal group makes up about six per cent of Sarawak’s population. Kedayan reside in Lawas, Limbang, Miri, and Sibuti areas. The Kedayan language is spoken by as many as 37,000 people. Indian Sarawakians are small in number and have well adapted with indigenous communities. Mixed marriages are the main cause for the Eurasians now minority ethnic groups in Sarawak.
The Ibanic tribal groups, particularly the people of Dayak, regard the Rhinoceros Hornbill the most supreme of all the birds in the world, which can survive, even in captivity, up to 90 years.
Sarawak’s indigenous religion of animism has almost faded out except for a few people in the Dayaks and Iban group who still practice animism and ancient sacrificial rites. Today, Sarawak is the only Malaysian State with majority Christian residents (44 per cent) comprising Roman Catholics, Anglicans, Methodists, Borneo Evangelical (BEM) and Baptists. Second in line are Muslims (30 per cent) from Kedayan, Malay and Melanau – and then the Buddhists (13.5 per cent) – third largest for the most part practiced by Chinese Malaysians. Other beliefs include Taoism, Chinese Folk (six per cent) and other religions (3.1 per cent) including Bahai, Hinduism, Sikhism and animism. Non religious groups make up of 2.6 per cent.
Tourism of Sarawak heavily relies on effective environmental policies and the government has stepped up efforts in rehabilitation and protection of the natural habitat, wildlife, flora and fauna through implementation of National Park reserve and wildlife sanctuary and rehabilitation projects. One such program is the Reef Ball project that will rehabilitate the ocean ecosystem of Sarawak by placing artificial reef modules in the sea to form a new environment – underwater. National Parks in Sarawak amount to large visitors’ economy in the region. Some of the most visited National Parks are deep in the rainforest and impenetrable tropical forests including Mulu National Park that highlight the Mulu caves: home to millions of bats. Baku National Park and Niah National Park have gained popularity more recently, the latter evidenced the birthplaces of civilisation after a skull was unearthed, which was estimated 40,000 years old, thus making the park one of the most significant finds among archaeological sites in the world.
