Inclusion of Betong's Gawai Dayak open house into state's annual events list proposed

(On the floor, from fifth right) Rentap, his wife Datin Rosemary Wong, Richard and Friday join others in a Gawai Dayak ritual as the hosting villagers and the visitors, including the foreigners, look on. — Ukas photo
BETONG (June 10): A call has been made for Sarawak Tourism Federation (STF)'s Gawai Dayak Open House in Betong to be made an annual event.
In presenting this proposal, Deputy Minister of Youth, Sports and Entrepreneur Development Dato Gerald Rentap Jabu hails the event as not only showcasing the rich cultural heritage of the Dayak community, but also aligning with Sarawak's tourism policies.
'Let us turn this (event) into a lasting legacy, an annual affair.
'This is the third year that it's being organised.
'With full support from all sides, tourism products like this would thrive and should grow into a sustainable tourism product,' he said in officiating at the event last Saturday, as reported by Sarawak Public Communications Unit (Ukas).
Hosted at Rumah Engkeranji, the Gawai Dayak open house gathered more than 1,500 people, including local and international tourists.
The June 7 programme was part of the Betong Division Gawai Dayak Festive Celebration 2025, being run throughout May and June in close collaboration between the local communities and the government.
Rentap, the assemblyman for Layar, also spoke about the uniqueness of the Gawai Dayak celebration, with its rich customs and traditions, which exhibited a strong potential to attract more foreign visitors.
In this regard, he highlighted the importance of collaboration with entities such as STF that had successfully attracted 120 international tourists from Brunei, Indonesia, Australia, Singapore, the UK and Italy through a specially-curated tourism package.
Meanwhile, STF chairperson Audrey Wan Ulok said the '3 Days, 2 Nights' package offered tourists a deep cultural immersion into Iban traditions, including overnight stays at the longhouse, as well as participation on the traditional Gawai parade, local feasts, and cultural concerts.
The evening was further enlivened by various traditional performances such as the 'ngajat' (Iban traditional dance) and also the 'Taboh Iban' and'Gendang Pampat' (drum instruments).
There was also the Gawai Kaamatan Concert 2025, a fusion of native cultural elements from Sarawak and Sabah featuring participation from the Kadazan Dusun Cultural Association (KDCA) Sarawak branch, in addition to performances by local artist Melissa Francis and renowned sape musician Jerry Kamit.
Also present were Betong MP Dr Richard Rapu; Krian assemblyman Friday Belik; and Momogun National Congress president Tan Sri Wences Angang.
The programme was supported by the Ministry of Tourism, Creative Industry and Performing Arts Sarawak, and co-hosted by the Betong Division Gawai Dayak Celebration Main Committee.
It is later reported that following this year's success, STF aims to establish the Gawai Dayak Open House at Rumah Engkeranji as a flagship annual cultural tourism event for Sarawak, further elevating the Dayak heritage as a vital tourism asset for the state. Betong Gawai Dayak open house Sarawak Tourism Federation tourism

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