Borneo Arts Festival 2025 Draws Nearly 40,000 Visitors, Reflecting Labuan’s Growing Cultural Pull

LABUAN, Nov 16 (Bernama) -- The Borneo Arts Festival (BAF) 2025 concluded tonight with a record-breaking turnout of nearly 40,000 visitors, surpassing the initial target of 30,000 and reinforcing its position as Labuan’s premier cultural showcase.

The five-day festival from Nov 13-17 at the Labuan International Sea Sports Complex, attracted crowds from across Malaysia, Brunei and Kalimantan Indonesia, highlighting the island’s growing appeal as a regional arts and cultural hub.

Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Fadillah Yusof officiated the closing ceremony.

Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department (Federal Territories) Datuk Seri Dr Zaliha Mustafa said the overwhelming response reflected the success of the Borneo Arts Festival as a flagship tourism and cultural event, strengthened further by the integration of unique elements introduced earlier through the Borneo Flora Festival.

“The strong turnout demonstrates how the Borneo Arts Festival, enhanced with new cultural and ethnic attractions, continues to elevate Labuan’s identity as a vibrant destination,” she said.

Dr Zaliha also noted that the festival’s impact went beyond cultural engagement, contributing significantly to the local economy through increased spending on accommodation, transportation, food and local products.

The Borneo Arts Festival 2025 featured performances, exhibitions, traditional ethnic showcases and creative installations, drawing strong participation from local artists and international performers, and is expected to further boost Labuan’s tourism momentum heading into 2026.

Dr Zaliha emphasised the Federal Government remained committed to supporting Labuan’s economic and cultural development through targeted investments and long-term planning.

“Labuan continues to receive due attention from the government, particularly in ensuring that the island develops on par with the other two Federal Territories,” she said.

She highlighted the RM38 million Phase One development of the Labuan Waterfront as one of the key initiatives aimed at enhancing the island’s tourism landscape, improving public spaces and strengthening its economic offerings.

“The project not only uplifts the waterfront as a new attraction, but also ensures that essential facilities such as power and water supply continue to receive focused improvements,” she added.

-- BERNAMA