Agritourism New Zealand
  • Home
  • June 2025 Trade Workshop
  • NEW: Agritourism Academy
    • LOG IN Agritourism Academy
    • Reviews / Testimonials
  • Membership
  • Agritourism Operator Listings
    • Farm Stays & Retreats
    • Agritourism Activities
    • NZ Farm Made
    • Tour Operators
  • For Farmers
    • Agritourism Courses
    • Agritourism Opportunities >
      • PurePods
      • Businesses for Sale
    • Agritourism Services
  • News | Media
    • Newsletter archive
  • Partners
  • Consultancy
  • About Us
    • Advisory Board
  • Contact
  • Home
  • June 2025 Trade Workshop
  • NEW: Agritourism Academy
    • LOG IN Agritourism Academy
    • Reviews / Testimonials
  • Membership
  • Agritourism Operator Listings
    • Farm Stays & Retreats
    • Agritourism Activities
    • NZ Farm Made
    • Tour Operators
  • For Farmers
    • Agritourism Courses
    • Agritourism Opportunities >
      • PurePods
      • Businesses for Sale
    • Agritourism Services
  • News | Media
    • Newsletter archive
  • Partners
  • Consultancy
  • About Us
    • Advisory Board
  • Contact

Agritourism NZ News | Media

Register for Agritourism NZ News

Sarawak Agrotourism Conference (Borneo)

5/9/2023

0 Comments

 
Today is our last day in Sarawak, Borneo and what an incredible couple of week it's been. I was invited to speak at the Sarawak Agrotourism Conference, an international conference with 22 speakers from all over Australasia.

Sarawak is at the start of its agritourism journey. The government is right behind the development of this exciting sector for farmers to diversify and develop sustainable and regenerative businesses. Their support will be an important part to move the sector forward.

It was so interesting to hear speakers from a wide range of backgrounds; from scientists to university professors, from professionals in this field to farmers and government officials.

And it was fantastic to finally meet in person the people I have been meeting on zoom at online conferences and at committee meetings for the Global Agritourism Network such as Pandurang Taware who has achieved amazing results in developing agritourism in India, and John Stanley.

Borneo is an island twice the size of NZ. About a quarter is Malaysian, a very small part is Brunei and the largest part is Indonesian.
The people are incredibly friendly, always smiling. The food is amazing (we love eating in villages, check out the video below), nature and wildlife are beautiful. No overtourism in this part, in most places we were the only westerners.

We stayed around the Kuching area (incl. Mt Santubong) for the whole time. Personally, I really like the idea to 'live like a local' and really get to know one place well rather than rush from one sight to another. We explored farmers markets, local food, hikes in the rainforest on the lookout for wildlife (saw probiscus monkeys, orang utangs, lizzards, spiders, Irrawaddy dolphins, crocodiles, lots of butterflies and more..
It's been an amazing experience and I'd like to thank and congratulate Nor Azmi Sulong and his team from Derrisen, the conference organiser, for this highly professionally organised event.
I look forward to seeing how agritourism in this beautiful part of the world will develop and benefit farmers here.
We'll be back!
0 Comments

Your comment will be posted after it is approved.


Leave a Reply.

    Author

    Marijke Dunselman

    Archives

    May 2025
    April 2025
    February 2025
    January 2025
    December 2024
    November 2024
    October 2024
    September 2024
    August 2024
    July 2024
    April 2024
    February 2024
    December 2023
    November 2023
    September 2023
    August 2023
    July 2023
    June 2023
    May 2023
    April 2023
    March 2023
    February 2023
    January 2023
    July 2022
    November 2021
    October 2021
    August 2021
    June 2021
    May 2021
    March 2021
    November 2020

    Categories

    All

Picture

Agritourism NZ 
PO Box 30
Queenstown, New Zealand
Phone: +64 21 456451
Email: [email protected] ​
Subscribe to Agritourism NZ News
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
© COPYRIGHT Agritourism NZ. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. 
​PRIVACY POLICY