Abang Johari (second left) pours rice to a traditional threshing basket while Ik Pahon (left) and Jane (right) look on. — Photo by Kong Jun Liung
KUCHING: The 10th World Harvest Festival to be held at Sarawak Cultural Village from May 2 to 4 is expected to attract over 6,000 visitors from all over the world.
Previously known as Gawai Tourism Night, the colourful and exciting festival with the theme ‘Sibauk and The Magic Golden Seeds’, is expected to contribute at least RM3 million to the state tourism coffer.
Tourism Minister Datuk Amar Abang Johari Tun Openg said the estimate was based on an average spending of RM200 per day per visitor during the three-day festival.
He said the festival attracted about 5,800 visitors last year and would expect about the same number this year.
“The money will go to all those people participating in the festival. Locals will gain from the money spent by tourists on hotels, taxis, flights and food,” Abang Johari told a press conference to promote the festival at his office here yesterday.
Abang Johari said the festival was an important venue for the state to showcase its ethnic and cultural diversity, especially the cultures of the Dayak people in conjunction with Visit Sarawak Year and Visit Malaysia Year 2014.
He also urged SCV to come up with a Gawai package at this time to enable the visitors to experience the Gawai atmosphere.
“WHF 2014 is a good avenue to promote tourism products in areas that are populated by the Bidayuh people,” he added.
For that, he said he would like to work together with Padawan Municipal Council and other agencies including Sarawak Economic Development Corporation (SEDC) to aggressively promote Borneo Highlands Resort in the heart of the Bidayuh country.
“There are many Bidayuh homestays and other attractions there and these we will link up to what we are going to do during the World Harvest Festival 2014.”
SCV general manager Jane Lian Labang said the theme of the festival based on a Bidayuh legend ‘Sibuak and The Magic Golden Seeds’ was written by Jonas Noeb about the livelihood of the Bidayuh people who are related very much to the earth and stars.
“Actually the Bidayuh people are very closely related to the stars. The paddy cycle actually comes from the stars. They even read the seven stars before they put the first seed on the ground.
“The paddy rituals will start with the seven stars. This theme play will show how the Bidayuh people are linked to the stars and how paddy came to earth. They believed that through Sibauk that paddy came to earth,” said Jane.
The highlight of the festival will be the WHF 2014 beauty pageant which will see 12 finalists competing for the Miss Cultural Harvest Festival 2014 on May 3.
The finalists are Dee Dee A’iene Peter, Valerina Aren Alfred, Diana Sim Siew Ling, Atika Eli, Sapphira Elisha Jerry, Josephine Jelawat James Jimmy, Angelia Lois, Carmila Ivy Daniel Manja, Joana Cynthia Tom Hem, Stepheni Johari, Miselle Octovie Thomas and Caroline Meza Munan.
Permanent secretary to the Tourism Ministry Datu Ik Pahon Joyik was also present at the press conference.