KUALA LUMPUR, June 3 — Sarawak longhouses have unique advantages that make them ideal community-based tourism products, said Tourism, Arts and Culture Minister Datuk Seri Tiong King Sing.
He said in line with the ministry’s Malaysia Homestay Experience Programme, longhouses offer a cultural experience not found anywhere else in the world.
He added that, in addition to preserving cultural heritage, developing community tourism could create economic opportunities for local residents through homestays, handicrafts, traditional food, cultural performances, and other activities.
“Longhouses are not just a cultural heritage that needs to be preserved, but are a symbol of a harmonious, united community life that continues to grow in tandem with modernisation.
“This uniqueness is what makes longhouses among the most authentic and valuable cultural tourism attractions to be introduced to the world,” he said in a Facebook post yesterday.
He hopes the media and visitors who have experienced longhouses would share their stories to correct misconceptions about indigenous communities in Borneo.
“In reality, longhouse communities today live in a progressive and open environment, yet they remain steadfast in preserving their unique cultural identity. This value is what makes longhouses not just a place of residence, but a symbol of harmony and unity among the people of Sarawak,” he said. — Bernama