Sarawak’s tourism industry raised a total of RM20,000 (US$4,750) on January 30 from the inaugural Kuching Heritage Race, supported by Northstar Travel Group’s brands – WIT (Web In Travel) and Travel Weekly Asia.
Road Runners – the best dressed team.
The two-hour event, which was created by WIT founder Yeoh Siew Hoon, saw close to 48 teams of about 160 participants “race” through the streets of Kuching. They had to complete 16 challenges at 16 locations handpicked by the race’s organising committee, which comprised volunteers from all walks of society.
Up to 50 volunteers ensured participants, who paid RM50 each to enter the race, completed the challenges at each location and made sure those from out-of-town did not get lost along the route. There were participants from Singapore, Kuala Lumpur, Kota Kinabalu, Australiam and New York as well as from across Sarawak.
The tinsmith, a disappearing trade.
The challenges included a blowpipe challenge to burst balloons at the Sarawak Court House, answering quizzes at the Chinese Heritage Museum, learning how to be a tin smith at a third-generational family business of this disappearing trade, taking a selfie with Jason Brooke, of the Brooke family who ruled Sarawak for more than 100 years, at the Brooke Memorial and learning how to don an Iban costume at the Textile Museum.
Philip Yong, chairman of the Sarawak Tourism Federation, which helmed the race, said: “Apart from increasing the awareness and appreciation of our own heritage and raising money for under-funded charities, what is important is to participate as a community.
“By knowing and loving our city and country, we can be better tourism ambassadors. Sarawak is a destination for travellers, and we have the goods to attract them – these may be seen in our heritage buildings and be experienced though our food, dress, customs and dispositions.
Main sponsors included Accor Plus with catering by Pullman Kuching, the Sarawak Tourism Board, Sarawak Convention Bureau, and Borneo Adventure.
Philip Yong, race’s chairman (left), with Datuk Haji Abang Abdul Wahap, mayor of Kuching North .
Explaining the idea of why she created the race, which has since been held twice in Singapore and in Bangkok last November, Siew Hoon said that travellers today were looking for local experiences and stories and “heritage is about local communities and stories, it is what makes and keeps destinations unique and different”.
“Heritage keeps travel alive and sustainable – why would anyone of us travel to see places that are and feel the same? We want to travel to feel places that are different and unique. Sarawak is definitely that.”
Jason Brooke with participants at the Brooke Memorial: Event opens people’s eyes to what is always there but taken for granted.
Jason Brooke said several Kuching participants told him that they had walked past the Brooke Memorial many times but had never stopped to look at it and “engaged” with it.
Brooke, who is setting up the Brooke Trust, said the event opened up local eyes to places they had taken for granted and with each challenge, learnt something new they didn’t know before.
Yeoh Siew Hoon, race’s creator (left in blue), with a winning team: This event rallies local communities around their own heritage.
Added Siew Hoon, “The Heritage Race is ideal for boutique destinations like Kuching. The city is rich in heritage, has a strong community-feel and is relatively unknown to most travellers outside of Sarawak. This event helps to focus attention on what makes Kuching unique and different, and at the same time rallies local communities around their own heritage.
“Of the four races that’s been organised, this one was the most multi-sectoral and inter-generational, a reflection of how strong the Kuching community spirit is. There was true collaboration between all industry sectors – government, tourism associations, tour operators, tour guides, heritage lovers – and it was wonderful to see so many families bring their children along. It’s good to start them young and if you introduce heritage to them in a fun way, it will stick.”
Uttara Sarkar Crees (right) with Jason Brooke: A Heritage Race would be a great opportunity to focus on Dukedzhong, the old town of Shangri-La, and revive interest in it after the fire of 2014.
Uttara Sarkar Crees, who runs Gyalthang Eco-Travel Company in Shangri-La, Yunnan, “I felt the race really made you discover the heritage of Kuching, the indigenous culture, the British history as well as the Chinese story. What was really terrific was it was a great challenge to everyone, including elders and youths, it was very competitive and it was fun. One could interact with the different teams.
“I wanted to experience this event to see if we could take the idea to Shangri-La. It would be a great opportunity to focus on Dukedzhong, the old town of Shangri-La, on the Tea Horse Caravan Trail and revive interest in it after the fire of 2014.
“The town has largely been rebuilt and it’d be good to re-introduce visitors and locals to the history and architecture of this 8th century town.”
Funds raised went towards Meeting Needs, an organisation that supports handicapped children of poor families in Sarawak.
Dino Mezzatesta, CEO of Accor Plus, which also sponsored the Bangkok race last November, said: “We are proud to be associated with this event and congratulate the Heritage Race organisers on the success of the Kuching community race.
“We would also like to thank all the local participants and volunteers who have helped raise both funds and awareness for the “Meeting Needs” charity organisation. We look forward to continuing our support of the Heritage Races during 2016.”
This team at the end of the race best illustrates the feelings of all the participants.
