LAWAS – The Sarawak Ministry of Tourism, Arts and Culture (MOTAC) has intensified efforts to involve local communities in tourism development through the MOTAC with the Community (PMBK) Programme, held in Lawas on Thursday.
MOTAC Sarawak Director Debbie Jenggut Nyelang explained that Lawas was chosen as the venue due to its strong potential as a community-based ecotourism hub.
She highlighted that local products such as Ba’ Kelalan rice, mountain salt and agricultural produce carry commercial value and cultural appeal, making them important assets for the district’s tourism growth.
The programme was designed to strengthen ties between MOTAC and local residents, while enhancing public awareness of their shared responsibility in developing tourism and safeguarding cultural heritage.
“MOTAC always adheres to the principle that sustainable tourism and cultural development must be based on community involvement,” Debbie said.
Sarawak is aiming to attract 1.6 million tourists to homestays and kampungstays in 2025, aligning with preparations for Visit Malaysia Year 2026.
Currently, the state has 68 registered homestay clusters, including three in Lawas: Homestay Long Semadoh with 17 participants, Homestay Ba’ Kelalan with 24 participants, and Homestay Long Sukang with 22 participants.
To strengthen the capacity of homestay operators, MOTAC has introduced several initiatives. Among them is a cooperative acceleration programme in partnership with the Malaysian Cooperative Commission (SKM).
The cooperative model is expected to help entrepreneurs gain access to financing through Tekun Nasional, Bank Rakyat, and other agencies licensed under Bank Negara Malaysia.
In addition, MOTAC is collaborating with the Institute of Rural Development and Infrastructure (INFRA) to conduct refresher and enrichment courses.
These sessions aim to improve digitalisation skills and enhance community tourism management among homestay operators.
The programme also featured a briefing on Visit Malaysia Year 2026 by Tourism Malaysia Sarawak, alongside an introduction to the Malaysia Homestay Experience Programme by the Sarawak MOTAC Office.
These sessions provided participants with valuable insights into the opportunities available in community-based tourism across the state.
By focusing on Lawas, MOTAC is reinforcing its commitment to empowering local communities and ensuring that tourism growth is inclusive, sustainable, and rooted in cultural heritage.
