PADAWAN: Adventure, nature, culture and trade will take centre stage this October as the Padawan Discovery Festival looks to draw visitors from across the region and beyond.
Padawan Municipal Council (MPP) Chairman, Tan Kai, said the five-day festival, from October 2 to 6, would bring together several events and activities to showcase what the area has to offer.
These include the Padawan Raft Safari, Sarawak Trade Fair as well as other sports, adventure, tourism and cultural activities.
“More importantly, we want this event to create opportunities for our local communities.
“When visitors come to Padawan, they will need accommodation, food, transportation, local products and tourism services.
“This can benefit homestays, food operators, small businesses, tourism operators and local communities along the river,” he said.
He said this at a press conference on Padawan Raft Safari 2026 at Dewan Majlis, Padawan Municipal Council here today.
On Padawan Raft Safari 2026, Tan said the event would provide a larger platform to showcase local attractions while promoting the area as an emerging destination.
He noted that the area is blessed with rivers, rainforests, traditional villages and rich cultural heritage which could be further promoted for adventure, nature and community-based tourism.
As such, he said the council wanted tourism development to go beyond attracting visitors by ensuring that communities also benefited from the opportunities created.
“Our objective is to ensure that tourism development is not only about attracting visitors, but also about creating opportunities for the people who call Padawan home,” he said.
Meanwhile, the Sarawak Trade Fair, organised in collaboration with the Sarawak Manufacturers’ Association, will be held from October 2 to 4 at the Ang Cheng Ho Quarry Multipurpose Hall.
“This will provide another platform to promote local businesses, products and investment opportunities,” he added.
The festival also coincides with MPP’s 70th anniversary as a local authority.
Tan said the council remained committed to developing Padawan, having worked together with local communities and stakeholders over the past seven decades.
“As we celebrate this milestone, we are also looking toward the future – towards building a sustainable, inclusive and liveable Padawan while creating new opportunities for our community and future generations,” he said.
