KUCHING: The Sarawak Government will invest millions of ringgit to establish a world-class gastronomy centre in Kuching, a move aimed at fulfilling UNESCO statutory requirements while anchoring the city as an international culinary tourism hub.
Minister of Tourism, Creative Industry and Performing Arts, Datuk Seri Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah, said the state is fully committed to meeting the obligations attached to the UNESCO designation, positioning food tourism as a major long-term economic driver.
“We will try as much as possible to comply with the requirements of UNESCO. When Kuching was recognised as a UNESCO Creative City of Gastronomy, there were many requirements, and one of them is that we must have our own world-class gastronomy centre.
“The government is prepared to invest millions and millions just to set up that culinary centre because it will have a very big impact internationally,” he told a press conference on the Borneo Culinary World Cup 2026 at Baitulmakmur II today.
Abdul Karim envisioned the proposed facility as a landmark flagship attraction where global travellers can experience the full spectrum of Sarawak’s heritage dishes under one roof.
“Those who love food and come to Kuching will have a place they must visit. At the gastronomy centre, they will be able to taste the many different cuisines that we have in the state,” he said.
He noted that Sarawak’s culinary diversity stems from its 34 officially recognised ethnic groups, whose distinct culinary traditions have been shaped by their unique geography and heritage.
“We are a melting pot of many things, including food. Every ethnic group has its own distinctive cuisine.
“If we continue to promote the culinary specialities of each ethnic group, we have so much to showcase to the world,” he said, citing iconic dishes such as Sarawak laksa, kolok mee, kampua mee, linut, umai and sago grubs.
The minister added that scaling up gastronomy tourism directly complements the state’s broader development goals under Visit Malaysia Year 2026, projecting massive commercial spillover benefits for local businesses outside the immediate hospitality sector.
“Once we are able to promote this, people will come to Sarawak just for its food, and along the way, they will visit our tourism hotspots and experience what the state has to offer,” he said.
The state government will continue backing high-profile international events to elevate Sarawak’s global profile while offering local talent a direct platform to compete alongside seasoned global professionals.
The upcoming Borneo Culinary World Cup (BCWC) 2026 is scheduled to run from August 5 to 7 in Kuching, bringing together an elite line-up of international chefs, judges and culinary enthusiasts for one of the region’s premier competitive showcases.
