Labuan’s Borneo Arts Festival 2025 Draws Over 10,000 Visitors So Far

LABUAN, Nov 15 (Bernama) -- More than 10,000 people have attended the island’s flagship cultural showcase, the Borneo Arts Festival (BAF) 2025, at the Labuan International Sea Sports Complex to date, marking one of the strongest public turnouts in recent years.

The ongoing five-day festival, held from Nov 13 to 17, has attracted locals, domestic tourists and international visitors - including many from neighbouring Brunei - turning the seaside complex and its surrounding areas into a vibrant hub of cultural performances, art exhibitions and community activities.

Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department (Federal Territories) Datuk Seri Dr Zaliha Mustafa said the encouraging attendance reflects the people’s strong appreciation for the arts, and the festival’s growing significance as a cultural and tourism driver for Labuan.

“The overwhelming response shows how much the community values cultural expression and creativity. 

“The festival brings people together, promotes inclusivity and strengthens Labuan’s potential as an emerging regional hub for the creative economy,” she said to Bernama today.

She said that the festival has already generated thousands of ringgit in economic spillover since its opening, benefiting local traders, food vendors, homestays, hotels and transport operators.

“We are seeing packed eateries, strong retail activity and high accommodation occupancy…the presence of visitors from Brunei is also an encouraging sign for Labuan’s tourism sector,” she said.

She added that Labuan ferries recorded full bookings from Nov 12, a day before the event began, reflecting an early influx of visitors and strong interest in the festival.

Dr Zaliha said Labuan must continuously strengthen community-based programmes, to attract more visitors and sustain tourism vibrancy throughout the year. 

“Events driven by local participation, including cultural showcases, neighbourhood festivals, craft markets, sporting activities and community-run attractions have proven effective in drawing domestic and regional tourists. 

“Community-based initiatives create a sense of ownership, encourage local creativity and ensure that visitors experience Labuan’s authentic identity. 

“Strong community involvement will make Labuan a more memorable destination, and support long-term tourism growth,” she said.

Labuan Corporation (LC) chief executive officer Mohd Sukuran Taib said this year’s Borneo Arts Festival has been injected with the uniqueness of Labuan’s ethnicity, featuring traditional houses, cultural displays, Borneo creative dance, cultural dance competition of ‘tingkah geruh’, and local dishes, which offer visitors an immersive experience of the island’s heritage. 

“These additions have become a major attraction, drawing families, culture enthusiasts and food lovers alike.

Mohd Sukuran said that the strong turnout provides a valuable platform for exposure, networking and cultural exchange, particularly among creatives from Sabah, Sarawak and Brunei.

He said that, with additional headline performances scheduled over the weekend, organisers expect even larger crowds as the festival continues until Nov 17.

Mohd Sukuran added that the Borneo Arts Festival 2025 is part of Labuan Corporation’s annual tourism calendar, aimed at preserving cultural heritage, nurturing creative talent and supporting Labuan’s broader economic diversification through arts-driven tourism.

“The festival’s closing ceremony is scheduled for Sunday night, and we expect the biggest crowd of the week, as the final performances and awards presentations take place,” he said.

-- BERNAMA