KUCHING – A team of tourism researchers from Swinburne University of Technology Sarawak Campus’ School of Business has received three prestigious awards at national and international levels.
At the International Conference on Responsible Tourism and Hospitality (ICRTH) 2023 which took place at the IPB International Convention Centre in Bogor, Indonesia from 21 to 25 August 2023, the team’s study on rural community-based tourism (CBT) homestays in Sarawak was honoured with the prestigious Emerald-ICRTH 2023 Research Award from Emerald Publishing, East and Southeast Asia Region. The team won the award for impactful research work on the future of sustainable tourism in Sarawak.
Furthermore, the team also won the Best Paper Award at the same international conference.
Adding to their list of achievements, the team’s research was showcased at the poster presentation segment of the recent Innovation Technology Exposition 2023 (InTEX23) organised by Universiti Malaysia Sarawak (UNIMAS). The team secured the Silver Award in the Research and Discovery – Social Sciences and Humanities category.
These achievements reflect Swinburne’s dedication to enhancing tourism research and practices that empower local communities and promote sustainable tourism in Sarawak.
“Research is meaningless unless it is making an impact. Hence, here at Swinburne Sarawak, we highly encourage our researchers to contribute their expertise to society, making a difference for a better future,” highlighted Professor Brian Wong Kee Mun, Dean of the Faculty of Business, Design and Arts at Swinburne Sarawak.
As an integral component of the Post Covid-19 Development Strategy 2030 in Sarawak, this research has received invaluable support from the Ministry of Tourism, Creative Industry and Performing Arts Sarawak.
Heading this research team was Dr Bibiana Lim Chiu Yiong, Head of the Learning and Teaching Unit at Swinburne Sarawak and a Senior Lecturer from the Faculty of Business, Design and Arts. Dr Bibiana was joined by her colleagues from the university’s School of Business, namely Dr Rodney Lim Thiam Hock, Dr Komathi Wasudawan, Dr Lim Tze Yin (Ivon), Dr Marc Arul Weissmann and Mr Irving Ting Shou Hui as well as external collaborator Dr Adam Long She, a Senior Lecturer from Sunway University, Malaysia.
Upon receiving the awards, Dr Bibiana expressed gratitude and emphasised the collaborative nature of their work, saying, “This is a team effort that generates impact to the community, and I would like to thank and acknowledge the contributions of colleagues, the Ministry of Tourism, Creative Industry and Performing Arts Sarawak as well as the local communities.”
The team’s research has illuminated the potential of CBT as a force for economic empowerment, cultural preservation and environmental sustainability in Sarawak. The research outcome has not only demonstrated the economic viability of CBT but also showcased its potential to preserve cultural heritage.
This remarkable achievement reaffirms Swinburne’s commitment to supporting research that positively impacts society and the environment.
For more information on Swinburne Sarawak, visit its website (www.swinburne.edu.my), Facebook page (@swinburnesarawak), Instagram page (@swinburnesarawak), Twitter page (@Swinburne_Swk), TikTok page (@swinburnesarawak) or YouTube channel (Swinburne Sarawak).