Borneo Cultural Festival builds momentum for Sibu tourism

SIBU: The Borneo Cultural Festival (BCF) should evolve beyond an annual cultural celebration into a strategic platform to position here as a destination offering unique experiences, rather than merely a stopover.

Sibu Municipal Council (SMC) chairman Councillor Clarence Ting Ing Horh said the success of BCF should not be measured solely by the vibrancy of its programmes or the number of visitors it attracts, but also by its ability to encourage visitors to explore Sibu more extensively and extend their stay.

He cited the experience of a French couple who had initially planned to spend only three days in Sibu but eventually extended their stay to 10 days after experiencing BCF and exploring the town’s local attractions.

The couple not only attended the festival but also sampled traditional food, including Itut, showing how experiences created through BCF could encourage visitors to venture beyond the festival grounds and discover Sibu’s culture and way of life.

“BCF may bring them to Sibu, but the Sibu experience makes them stay,” he said in his closing speech at BCF 2026, themed ‘Echoes of Borneo’, at Dataran Tun Tuanku Bujang here on Saturday night (Sept 12).

Ting said this approach was important as the strength of a tourism festival should not depend solely on what takes place on stage, but also on how effectively it opens the door to the wider experiences available in the destination.

A performance from Fujian Puxian Opera Theatre.

He said BCF 2026 had shown positive development, with visitors increasingly encouraged to participate in the festival rather than remain mere spectators.

“The interactive performances by Budakapi, including the first ever fireshow staged in Sibu, brought a new dimension to the festival by making participation and experience part of its main attractions.

“The presence of groups from China, Indonesia, Brunei, Sabah, Sarawak and various other parts of Malaysia further strengthened BCF’s position as a regional meeting point for cultures, while providing Sibu with an opportunity to showcase its identity to a wider audience,” he said.

Ting also said the participation of local talents such as Dion Das Louis and Belle Sisoski demonstrated how Borneo’s heritage could be presented in a contemporary and refreshing way while retaining its cultural roots.

“This shows that culture does not necessarily have to be preserved only in traditional forms. It can also be developed into experiences that remain relevant to younger generations while attracting visitors from outside,” he said.

A performance by Yao’s Peking Opera troupeof Fuding City, China.

This year’s festival also adopted a more relaxed approach, with fewer formalities and stage protocols, allowing visitors to enjoy the event more freely.

The approach also took into consideration the prevailing haze conditions, with unnecessary outdoor exposure minimised without affecting the continuity of the festival.

“BCF should not be an event that people look forward to only once a year.

“Instead, the momentum created should pave the way for more reasons for visitors to return to Sibu even when there is no festival stage,” he said.

Ting stressed that continued cooperation among the community, cultural practitioners, traders, tourism operators, government agencies and other stakeholders would be crucial to ensuring BCF’s growth as an integral part of Sibu’s wider tourism ecosystem.

A performance by Chung Hua Middle School, Kuala Belait, Brunei.

A performance from Sanggar Rama Sinta Persada, Jakarta, Indonesia.

A performance by “The Little Bornean Birdie” – Dion Das Louis, Kuching.