KUCHING: The Padawan Raft Safari 2023 has seen a significant increase in participation, with the number of teams rising from 100 in the previous edition to 213 this year, both locally and abroad.
Minister of Tourism, Creative Industry and Performing Arts (MTCP) Datuk Seri Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah attributed this growth to the enthusiastic response from teams from Thailand, Indonesia, the United States, Russia, Belarus, China, Singapore, Brunei, and the Philippines.
Breaking down the numbers, he said that there were 77 teams from government agencies, 23 teams in the women’s open category, 20 teams from hotel and tour agencies, 36 teams in the open category, and 44 teams participating in kayaking.
Abdul Karim highlighted that the substantial increase in participation indicates the event’s popularity, both domestically and internationally. He anticipated a large turnout for the event on October 22 and expects around 3,000 spectators to attend.
“We believe that with effective management, this event has the potential to become an iconic gathering for extreme sports enthusiasts, all while promoting environmental awareness,” he said during press conference at Serapi Hotel here today.
Additionally, Abdul Karim invited spectators to witness the event’s kick-off at the following locations and times: Kampung Annah Rais for the kayak category at 7.30 am, Kampung Temurang for the open category at 8.30 am, and Kampung Danu for the women’s open, government agencies, hotel and tour category at 9.30 am.
He also disclosed that the closing ceremony would take place at Kampung Git at 3 pm, with a total prize fund of RM19,000 up for grabs.
“This year, we can also see the support of private parties, including Trieneken, SAR Alam, and Shenton Sport Supply. We thank them for their support and everyone involved,” he said.
Meanwhile, Abdul Karim urged spectators to arrive early or consider carpooling due to limited parking spaces and potential traffic congestion in the area. He suggested that the Padawan Municipal Council (PMC) explore options such as providing bus services to alleviate traffic issues.
Present at the press conference were PMC chairman Tan Kai and MTCP permanent secretary Datuk Sherrina Hussaini.
