Pesta Nukenen Bario celebrates Kelabit Heritage while driving rural tourism growth
- BT
- 22 hours ago
- 3 min read
BARIO, 30 July 2026: The 19th edition of Pesta Nukenen Bario officially opened in the scenic Kelabit Highlands on July 24, bringing together culture, cuisine, and community in one of Sarawak's most celebrated highland festivals.
Officiating the opening ceremony was Minister for Tourism, Creative Industry and Performing Arts Sarawak, Dato Sri Haji Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah, who described the festival as more than a celebration of food and tradition, saying it has become a successful model of how rural tourism can create sustainable economic opportunities for local communities.
"Every time I return to Bario, the hospitality of the local folks here reflects the warmth, resilience and rich heritage of the Kelabit community. Standing before you today at this year’s Pesta Nukenen Bario, I see more than just a vibrant celebration of food and culture," he said.
Held annually in the heart of the Kelabit Highlands, Pesta Nukenen Bario continues to attract visitors from across Malaysia and abroad, many of whom stay several days due to Bario's unique location, accessible mainly by rural air services and four-wheel-drive routes. The influx of visitors has provided a significant boost to local homestays, lodges, eco-tour operators, transport providers, and small businesses, with accommodations often fully booked months in advance.
Abdul Karim noted that tourism remains one of Sarawak's key economic drivers, with the state recording more than RM12 billion in tourism receipts in 2025, while monthly tourism revenue in 2026 has reached approximately RM1 billion. "Tourism benefits everyone from homestay operators and food vendors to transport providers and small businesses," he added.
The festival shines a spotlight on Bario's renowned agricultural produce and indigenous cuisine, including the famous Beras Bario, sweet Bario pineapples, traditional highland salt, wild jungle herbs, and the iconic nuba laya. Beyond its culinary offerings, Pesta Nukenen Bario provides an important platform for local artisans to showcase and sell traditional Kelabit handicrafts, including intricate beadwork, handwoven rattan baskets, wood carvings, and the sape, helping preserve indigenous craftsmanship while generating income for the community.
Abdul Karim added that the festival creates a ripple effect across the local economy, benefiting rural air services, four-wheel-drive operators, charter transport providers, and tour guides, while opening new opportunities in hospitality, photography, food services, and cultural tourism.
Looking ahead, he said the upcoming launch of AirBorneo is expected to further enhance connectivity to Sarawak and eventually improve access to remote destinations like Bario through the Rural Air Services network. "This seamless connectivity will bring a steady stream of high-yield eco-tourists and culture seekers to the Kelabit Highlands year-round – boosting our local homestay operators, sustaining our farmers and potentially elevating Pesta Nukenen onto the global stage," he said.
He also reaffirmed the Sarawak Government's commitment to supporting Bario’s growth, upgrading the region’s tourism infrastructure and bringing their story to the world. The minister later officially declared the 19th Pesta Nukenen Bario open, inviting visitors to experience the unique culture, cuisine, hospitality, and natural beauty that have made Bario one of Sarawak's most distinctive highland destinations.
Also present during the launching, Deputy Minister in the Premier’s Department (Labour, Immigration and Project Monitoring), Datuk Gerawat Gala, Deputy Minister for Transport II, Datuk Henry Harry Jinep and Miri Mayor, Adam Yii.
“I encourage you to eat well, explore these magnificent highlands, support our local entrepreneurs and experience the unparalleled hospitality of Bario,” the minister concluded.
