Saturday Night Show to attract tourists

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ONLY IN KUCHING: Performers entertain guests and tourists during the new Saturday Night Show at the Sarawak Tourism Complex.

KUCHING: The capital city of Sarawak is looking to share the success of Edinburgh Fringe Festival — the world’s largest arts festival — following its launch of Saturday Night Show at the Sarawak Tourism Complex (STC) here.

The weekly one-hour event, first of its kind at the complex, prides itself for turning Kuching into a vibrant and cultural city.

It ultimately aims at attracting more tourists especially Singaporeans to the state.

Tourism objective apart, the cultural show will play a role to groom local talents. It is also to gradually offer an avenue for talented students and individuals to exhibit their gifts.

Tourism Minister Datuk Amar Abang Johari Tun Abang Openg, when launching the new event last Saturday, said the show would lighten up Kuching and make it a city with soul and spirit.

“What we are doing is to translate the spirit of Kuching into an environmentally clean, friendly and culturally strong city.

“We have been to The Fringe Festival in the city of Edinburgh, Scotland. We see it as a model and then adjust to our own culture. Our new event is to entertain any guests and tourists to Kuching,” he told journalists at the STC here.

Edinburgh Fringe Festival 2011 spanned 25 days, totalling over 2,500 international shows from 60 nations in 258 venues. The festival takes place annually in Scotland’s capital Edinburgh in August.

Abang Johari said local performers would interact with guests, who could also tour an exhibition held in conjunction with the Saturday Night Show.

The exhibition features local crafts including native textiles and products.

He expressed confidence that the weekly show would entertain tourists and Singaporeans, in particular, given the flights provided by Tiger Airways.

Abang Johari, also Satok assemblyman, said feedback from tourism industry players indicated that tourists wanted to see cultural programmes.

“We actually have feedback from travel agents and hoteliers that their guests want to see some cultural show. They say there is nothing to do after dinner, nothing exciting at night.

“So we hope this show will attract people and in turn make Kuching a lively city with cultural soul.”

He admitted that the ministry looked forward to receiving overwhelming response for the show before it could brand it, in other words to assign the cultural show a proper name.

For the time being, he said local performers were invited to stage the show, and believed that more young talents would come forward in the near future.

“By May, we will have performances from our schools like Sekolah Seni. They can showcase their talents but know not where to perform.

“And now they can perform in front of the public and tourists at Sarawak Tourism Complex. Also, we can groom more talents.”

The Saturday Night Show takes place at the STC from 7.30pm. Interested individuals should visit Housing Ministry’s website and social sites Facebook and Twitter for updates.