Iban longhouses listed in Top 10 places where tourists can feel at home by Lonely Planet
KUCHING: The Sarawak Iban longhouse has been named one of the 10 Lonely Planet’s “Where to feel like one of the family” places in its Best in Travel 2014.
Released on Oct 28, the world’s number one guidebook publisher and global authority on travel Lonely Planet described Iban Longhouse as a cosy place.
“Things can get cosy in an Iban longhouse. Members of Sarawak’s largest ethnic group traditionally live in communal, wonky, wooden structures that might be home to 30-odd families – and a few curious travelers.
“Many longhouses are secreted away in the jungle, reached only by boat. On arrival, your first port of call should be the chief, who will hopefully grant you permission to ascend into the longhouse’s ruai (common area). This is where it all happens: eating, rice-wine drinking, gossiping, dancing…the Ibans like party, so don’t count on much sleep,” Lonely Planet says.
The annual roundup was based on recommendations drawn from ideas submitted by Lonely Planet’s staff, authors and community of bloggers and tweeters. Their suggestions are refined by a panel of in-house travel experts, based on scores for topicality, excitement and that special x-factor.
“Where to feel like one of the family” is one of the inventive lists to the standard round up of “Top 10 destinations” in marking the 20th anniversary of the International Year of the Family to kip with clans worldwide.
The recognition was welcomed by ministers and tourism players.
Senior minister and minister of Land Development Tan Sri James Masing said the prestigious accolade from Lonely Planet proved that longhouse and its residents make for one of the best tourist products for Sarawak.
“When I was the minister of tourism I tried to promote culture, adventure and nature (CAN) tourism because I knew that longhouse and its inhabitants will make one of the best tourism products for Sarawak.
“However, because of lack of understanding of longhouse potential as tourist product by tourism planners, we were put on the back burner in allocation of fund for tourism promotion,” Masing told The Borneo Post.
An emotional Masing added that the enhancement of longhouse potential cost little but the earning was huge and widespread.
Senior Minister and Minister of Social Development Tan Sri William Mawan said it was a great recognition for the Ibans.
“The warm and welcoming hospitality in the Iban longhouses is the reflection of hospitality of Sarawakians in general.
“Ibans like to welcome outsiders especially foreign tourists to their longhouses in the long association with the colonial masters who they called ‘tuan’.”
Mawan called for government’s assistance to make sure the longhouses are safe, healthy and facilitated with basic amenities like water and electricity to ensure that in the long run, the tourism could generate better revenue for both the longhouse dwellers as well as for the government.
Assistant minister of tourism Datuk Talip Zulpilip expects more tourist arrivals with the recognition of the uniqueness of our longhouses.
“The exposure will be great without costing us too much,” he said.
Sarawak Tourism Board (STB) believed that the recognition would enhance its effort to make Sarawak a more attractive place as a culture, adventure and nature destination.
STB director of marketing Benedict Jimbau said, “With the visit Sarawak Year next year, STB is expected to get more funding from the federal government to ensure that the campaign will be able to attract more tourist arrivals.”
Other places chosen to have the family feel are Casas particulares (Cuba), Ger ( Mongolia), Coconut plantation ( Kerala), Township house ( Johannesburg), Sobe (Croatia), Village home (Otavalo, Ecuador), Bedouin tent (Wadi Rum, Jordan), Bure (Fiji) and Couch (worldwide).
In the hot-off-the-press Best in Travel 2014, Malaysia has also been listed one of the top 10 destinations to visit in 2014 among Brazil, Antarctica, Scotland, Sweden, Malawi, Mexico, Seychelles, Belgium and Macedonia.