Seen from the sky, through the lens of drones, Sarawak entices.
Its attractions—from the coastline to the interior—take center stage in a tourism campaign that deployed drones to film destinations across the state, giving tourists a fresh view of the state.
The campaign, Sarawak, Gateway to Borneo, positions the state as an ideal starting point to discover the world’s third-largest island, which is shared by Brunei Darussalam, Indonesia, and Malaysia. It also marked a milestone for the Sarawak Tourism Board in deploying drone technology and creative content to strengthen destination promotion.
The production bagged a number of awards. These included a Guinness World Records title for the longest cumulative distance by a remote-controlled multirotor/drone relay in December 2025 and more recently the “Best Use of Drones” prize at the Cannes Corporate Media and TV Awards. To aim for the Guinness record, the production team filmed over six days, deploying a relay of drones covering 1,706.7 kilometers.
The campaign takes viewers on a visual journey through Sarawak’s rainforests, caves, rivers, and coastlines, as well as the traditions and cultures of its communities.
In accepting the award in Cannes, Sarawak Tourism Board Chief Executive Officer Sharzede Datu Haji Salleh Askor said the recognition demonstrated how creativity and technology could bring Sarawak’s identity and experiences to audiences beyond the region.
“This recognition tells us that Sarawak’s story travels. A record-setting drone journey allowed us to present the state as it deserves to be seen, from coastline to interior, while celebrating our people, places, and heritage. “For any destination, creativity matters as much as reach. Being recognized on this international stage encourages us to continue telling the Sarawak, Gateway to Borneo story in fresh and meaningful ways, particularly as Malaysia’s Visit Malaysia campaign continues through 2027,” she said.
Melvin Jong, director of digital and communications at the tourism board, said the use of drones provided an opportunity to present Sarawak from a perspective that audiences might not ordinarily experience. “Combining the record attempt with visual storytelling gave the project a purpose beyond the achievement itself. It allowed us to showcase Sarawak through a different lens, and it is rewarding to see that approach recognized in Cannes,” he said.
As Malaysia’s largest state, Sarawak is home to some of the oldest rainforests on Earth. Its vast landscape spans more than 120,000 square kilometers and encompasses towering mountains, cool highlands, dramatic limestone formations, extensive cave systems, winding rivers and tranquil beaches. Festivals held throughout the year celebrate Sarawak’s distinctive blend of contemporary and traditional cultures, food, music, and religious practices.