KUCHING: DayakDaily has launched the seventh edition of its annual travel writing initiative, D’Drift 2026: Tracing Stories Along the Coastal Road, reaffirming its commitment to promoting Sarawak as a unique tourism destination.
The flag-off ceremony was officiated by Minister for Tourism, Creative Industry and Performing Arts, Datuk Seri Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah, at the DayakDaily office here today.
In his speech, Abdul Karim congratulated the media organisation for sustaining the programme into its seventh year, noting that it had grown from a small initiative into a recognised platform for storytelling and tourism promotion.
“To promote Sarawak, there are many ways apart from organising events.
“Going to the ground, feeling the food, culture and lifestyle of the people and putting them into words is a very interesting and effective way to promote Sarawak,” he said.
He added that such immersive storytelling not only attracts foreign tourists but also enables locals and Malaysians from other states to better understand Sarawak’s diversity and way of life.
Abdul Karim also commended the initiative’s book donation efforts introduced in recent years, describing them as a noble move to benefit rural schools and communities, including through village development and security committees (JKKKs).
He encouraged corporations, companies and non-governmental organisations (NGOs) to contribute new or pre-loved books, which could then be distributed to interior areas with limited access to public libraries.
Touching on this year’s journey, he noted that the team would travel from Asajaya to Miri along the coastal road, offering opportunities to observe development across the state.
He highlighted the significance of the coastal route, explaining that many of Sarawak’s major towns including Sibu, Bintulu, Kuching and Sri Aman originated at river mouths when rivers served as the primary means of transportation.
“The ministry and the state government will continue to support this programme annually because we need this kind of information to be disseminated to the public,” he said, adding that many tourists today seek authentic and safe travel experiences, even in small villages.
Organised by DayakDaily since 2020 with support from the Ministry of Tourism, Creative Industry and Performing Arts (MTCP), D’Drift has become a signature storytelling project highlighting lesser-known towns, villages and settlements.
For this edition, a team of journalists will embark on a 10-day expedition along Sarawak’s coastline to document traditions, folklore and everyday life, while showcasing the unique charm of coastal communities.
Since its inception, D’Drift has covered regions such as Ulu Baram and Ulu Belaga, advocating sustainable tourism and community engagement while bringing greater visibility to often-overlooked communities.
