Sibu Municipal Council aims for 150,000 visitors at Borneo Cultural Festival 2024

Izkandar (seated, centre) with his committee holding up the BCF mascot.

SIBU, Aug 2: The Sibu Municipal Council (SMC) is targeting over 150,000 visitors for the Borneo Cultural Festival (BCF) 2024, which will take place from Aug 8 to 17.

Deputy Chairman Mohammed Abdullah Izkandar Rosely stated that this 20th edition of BCF will feature unique attractions compared to previous years.

“We expect over 30,000 visitors for both the opening and closing events alone,” he said. “Throughout the 10-day festival, based on previous editions, we anticipate recording 15,000 to 20,000 visitors each night.”

Speaking to reporters after a meeting with various agencies and communities involved in organizing BCF 2024, Mohammed Abdullah noted that delegates and participants of the Participatory Design Conference (PDC) 2024 are also expected to visit the BCF site.

Many international participants, including those from Europe, will experience the festival’s unique offerings.

“We have performers from the Shaolin Temple in China, who will demonstrate their kung fu moves,” he said.

“Additionally, we have invited PDC 2024 designer artists from abroad who can create clay replicas of visitors’ faces, along with many other attractions at the trade and business exhibition section of Tradex.”

Mohammed Abdullah also highlighted the performances from various ethnic communities, each bringing its own unique attractions to the festival.

BCF 2024 will be inaugurated by the Deputy Premier of Sarawak, Datuk Amar Dr Sim Kui Hian, at 6pm on Aug 9.

The Minister of Tourism, Creative Industries, and Performing Arts, Dato Sri Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah, is expected to officiate the closing of BCF 2024 on Aug 17 at 7pm. — DayakDaily