BAU: The inaugural Bau Youth Carnival 2024 should be included in the Sarawak Tourism Calendar as an annual event, suggests Krian assemblyman Friday Belik.
He said the carnival, which draws significant participation and attendance, has the potential to boost tourism by attracting visitors from outside Bau to experience and celebrate such festivities.
“This is something feasible. It could grow into a cultural festival with more cultural elements integrated into its programme.
“We encourage the organisers to propose this through the District Office and subsequently the Resident’s Office, utilising the Tourism Task Group at the divisional level,” he told a press conference after officiating the Bau Youth Carnival at Redeems Centre here last night (Nov 30).
According to Friday, the three-day carnival is expected to attract around 10,000 attendees and provides opportunities for small traders, particularly youths, to run stalls selling food, beverages, and other products.
“This is an excellent platform for young entrepreneurs to kick-start their ventures and gain valuable experience,” he added.
Meanwhile, carnival organiser Captain Joseph Emmanuel Rentap echoed similar sentiment, expressing hope that the Bau Youth Carnival could become an annual event to empower local youths and unlock their potential.
He said for future editions of the event, they plan to introduce technology workshops or activities similar to those held at other major carnivals.
“For the next carnival, we aim to implement an ‘entrepreneurial pitch’ segment inspired by the ‘Shark Tank’.
“Another area for improvement is adopting an eco-friendly approach, such as reducing the use of plastic. As you can see, we currently rely heavily on plastic to promote this event,” he added.
