Borneo cycling holiday, Headhunters Heartland

The Impacts of this Trip

We build up our partnership with as many local as possible, from the local boatman, homestay, street stalls and small cafes. As much as possible, we stick to the same people who are then familiar with our expectation and they will expand their operation as they grow with our business.

For this particular tour, we have collaborated with our Ministry of Tourism Sarawak’s initiative in a project known as “Fort to Fort Trail” to develop responsible tourism in an interior region of Sarawak who had very little exposure to tourism. We developed an education package together with the Ministry to train the local longhouse folks to manage their expectation and on how to receive tourist. The training involves safety training as well as basic requirement of homestay, tour guiding and hygiene standard etc. as well as to educate on the longhouse folks on the importance and the method to preserve their authentic longhouses and cultural heritage.

We provide travelers with suggestions for Code of Conduct for Social responsibility and ways to minimise negative impacts on local cultures:-

– We recommend the traveler when buying souvenirs, head to the shops of traditional artisans or local cottage industry for locally made products. That will be helping to keep traditional crafts alive, while also supporting our small, independent business owners and artists. We always favour local products over imported items, but avoid buying things made from the tusks or horns of endangered animals (such as hornbill and coral), or from at-risk plants (such as orchid and pitcher plant). We educate travellers how and why purchasing locally produced goods and services – souvenirs, crafts, meals and guides from locally owned establishments has beneficial effect – communicate a sense of the significance of this to local communities;
– We also suggest ways to minimise negative impacts on local cultures such as giving the best possible advice about bargaining, as well as advice on giving gifts or money to beggars, children, and people they have just met;
– We recommend the traveler always ask first before photographing or videoing people. Asking before clicking also offers the chance to have a conversation and to connect;
– We advice travelers to dress respectfully with an awareness of our local standards that varies with each culture and religion, including dressing modestly at certain religious sites and check what swimwear is suitable for pools and the beach.