KUCHING: The Bau Cultural and Tourism Festival (BCTF) has been described as a stepping stone towards positioning Bau as a major tourism and cultural destination in Sarawak.
Speaking during the festival’s opening ceremony at the REDEEMS Centre on Saturday night (May 9), the Deputy Minister for Transport (Riverine and Marine), Datuk Henry Harry Jinep said the event, although still in its early stages, has the potential to become a high-impact annual programme with support from the Ministry of Tourism, Arts and Culture Malaysia (MOTAC).
“Although it is not yet an annual event, we really hope that with the support of MOTAC, this programme can be developed and promoted as a high-impact annual event,” he said.
Henry, who is also the Tasik Biru assemblyman, described the festival as an important initial effort to highlight Bau’s strengths in heritage, culture and eco-tourism.
“Organising this festival is an initial step for us to highlight Bau as a tourist destination rich in cultural heritage and natural beauty,” he said.
He added that the programme should not merely be viewed as a one-off celebration but as a long-term initiative capable of bringing economic and tourism benefits to the district and the state.
“This festival is a start. With continued support, we believe it can grow into an annual event that truly adds value to Bau and Sarawak,” he stressed.
Henry noted that Bau possesses strong tourism assets, including its rich history, multi-racial cultural diversity and increasingly popular eco-tourism attractions.
“Bau actually has very clear strengths from its history, the cultural diversity of the community, to the eco-tourism potential that is increasingly gaining attention.
“What we need now is a more structured approach and continuous support to take this potential to the next level,” he said.
He also revealed growing international interest in Bau, particularly from several cities in China, namely Ya’an, Leshan and Dujiangyan, which have expressed interest in establishing strategic cooperation and sister-city ties with Bau in tourism and cultural heritage development.
“This is a very positive development. It shows that Bau not only has value at the local level, but also has the potential to be recognised internationally,” he added.
Henry further described Bau as Sarawak’s “hidden gold”, saying the district’s gold mining heritage, limestone formations and unique cultural landscape could transform it into a regional economic gateway.
“With the Sarawak Government’s continued investment in infrastructure development in Bau based on PCDS 2030, Bau will become an example of modern economic development based on heritage and community,” he said.
MOTAC Minister, Datuk Seri Tiong King Sing, officiated the festival’s opening ceremony.
