THE recent Borneo Cultural Festival at the Town Square in Sibu was a cultural potpourri and an eye-opener for first-time visitors.
The nine-day, Sarawak-tourism-calendar event hosted on an elaborate scale by the Sibu Municipal Council impressed many locals.
An Iban performs the "Miring" on stage during the Borneo Cultural Festival at Sibu Town Square.
Besides showcasing Sarawak’s rich cultural heritage, the festival offered lots of entertainment and fun through traditional games, a Dayak beauty queen and warrior pageant, karaoke and singing contests, talent and fashion shows.
The staging of a traditional Malay wedding and a Chinese opera were rare.
Food lovers were pampered with a choice of specialities and delicacies from the Chinese community.
The trade show featuring dozens of booths was a crowd puller.
True elegance: Dancers from the Sibu Hornland Dance Theatre performing an Orang Ulu dance during the Borneo Cultural Festival at the Sibu Town Square recently.
The annual festival was part of a concerted effort to promote Sibu as a city of cultures and festivals and attract tourists through this gateway to central Sarawak.
“Beauty in Ethnic Diversity was chosen as the theme by the festival organisers to highlight the unique and colourful customs and traditions of the Malays, Melanaus, Chinese and the Dayaks, who are made up of Ibans, Bidayuhs and Orang Ulus and other minority tribes.
Hundreds of dancers, singers and musicians representing the best local talents entertained the crowd nightly on multiple stages at the town square.
A three-member African dance group and two Indonesian bands also performed, adding an international flavour to the festival.
A street parade comprising different ethnic groups in traditional costumes, marching bands and car-woofer troops were introduced this year for the festival's launch.
Stirring: Tuku Kame from Sarawak Cultural Village on show.
A spectacular fireworks display during finale on July 5 brought a to climax the celebrations.
Sarawak Tourism and Urban Development Minister Datuk Wong Soon Koh said the festival, now meant only for locals, would set its sights overseas for wider coverage.
He said a panel comprising officials, hoteliers, tour operators, travel agents and airlines would be set up to market the festival abroad and attract foreigners to celebrate the event with locals.
“I hope the festival will be marketed aggressively in Peninsula Malaysia for Malaysians from all over the country to enjoy the event,” he added.
He said that cultural troupes like the Portuguese from the peninsula would be invited to perform.
Wong said, by bringing in international tourists, the festival would generate better foreign exchange and economic spin-offs.
No comments:
Post a Comment