Sarawak hosts ICOMOS for first time, welcoming 1,500 heritage experts
KUCHING, 19 October 2026: Sarawak is hosting the ICOMOS Scientific Symposium for the first time, bringing together more than 1,500 heritage experts and professionals from 109 countries for an international exchange on safeguarding cultural heritage.
Held in conjunction with the 22nd ICOMOS General Assembly, the three-day symposium places Kuching at the centre of global discussions on living heritage, conservation and the resilience of cultural traditions in a rapidly changing world.
According to Minister for Tourism, Creative Industry and Performing Arts Datuk Seri Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah, the gathering reflected a shared international commitment to safeguarding cultural heritage and strengthening cooperation across nations and communities.
Welcoming delegates at the opening plenary today, he said Sarawak's rich cultural diversity, traditional settlements, historic towns, craftsmanship, performing arts and Indigenous knowledge were integral to its identity and continued relevance.
“For Sarawak, heritage goes beyond monuments, buildings and historical objects. It is also found in the knowledge, practices, memories and relationships passed from one generation to the next,” he said in his address at the Opening Plenary today.
The symposium carries the theme “Living Heritage: Respect, Enhance, Accept, Partnership”, highlighting the importance of respecting cultural identities, strengthening conservation practices, accepting responsible change and building partnerships to safeguard heritage for future generations.
Abdul Karim pointed out that cultural heritage worldwide faced growing challenges from climate change, natural disasters, armed conflicts, rapid urbanisation and social transformation.
“When heritage is lost, we lose more than physical structures. We also risk losing collective memory, cultural identity, traditional knowledge and the continuity of communities.
“Heritage conservation must therefore go beyond protecting historic buildings and monuments. It must also strengthen community resilience and support the continuity of cultural practices in times of change and uncertainty,” he said, while noting that ICOMOS Triennial Scientific Plan 2024–2027, which focuses on ‘Disaster and Conflict Resilient Heritage: Preparedness, Response and Recovery’, provides an important framework for addressing these challenges.
The minister also emphasised the role of Indigenous Peoples and local communities, saying they were not merely beneficiaries of conservation efforts but custodians of knowledge, traditions and cultural practices.
Their voices, participation and leadership, he said, must remain central to decisions affecting their heritage and communities.
The symposium will feature four sub-themes and 14 scientific sessions over three days, providing a platform for participants to share research findings, professional experience and practical approaches to heritage conservation.
Discussions will explore the links between cultural heritage, communities, innovation, resilience and sustainable development, with the aim of strengthening collaboration among professionals, institutions and communities across countries.
Abdul Karim said the gathering's success should not be measured solely by the number of papers presented or discussions held, but by how the knowledge exchanged was translated into practical action.
He added that Sarawak viewed cultural heritage as an important source of identity and a foundation for sustainable development, with conservation and development able to complement each other through thoughtful planning, responsible management and meaningful community participation.
“By hosting the ICOMOS Scientific Symposium 2026, Sarawak is contributing to the global discussion on how cultural heritage can be protected, sustained and passed on to future generations,” he said.
The gathering aligns with the ICOMOS Triennial Scientific Plan 2024–2027, which focuses on “Disaster and Conflict Resilient Heritage: Preparedness, Response and Recovery”, underscoring the need to improve preparedness, strengthen emergency response and support long-term recovery.
