SANDAKAN: The Sandakan Tourism Association (STAN) will be organizing the Sandakan Festival with the theme “Colours of Sandakan” at Harbour Square Piazza from June 11–14.
The Sandakan Festival is usually held from May to July.
“Colours of Sandakan” will showcase exciting traditional handicraft bazaar and well-choreographed Sabah cultural dance performances from the east coast.
Hotel and restaurant operators will join in the food bazaar and cooking demonstrations.
The public can also expect to grab special offers as travel agencies will pitch in by having mini local travel fair with special prices for their tour packages.
There will also be a special book launch for a bilingual guide book “Wild Colours Of Sabah”.
In its second edition, this time it will include expanded areas of Maliau Basin, Danum Valley and Tabin Wildlife Reserve.
The main objective of the “Colours of Sandakan” is to showcase and create awareness on the cultures and heritage of Sandakan among all local and foreign tourists.
During a recent courtesy visit to Tourism, Culture and Environment Minister Datuk Seri Panglima Masidi Manjun, STAN exco members briefed him on the details of the program.
Masidi complimented STAN on its initiate to organise the event though it was given a short notice to hold it.
STAN was only registered and established earlier this year.
Masidi also said that Sandakan has plenty of potential as a tourism destination and as long as the tourism operators work together for the same goal of promoting Sandakan, the tourism industry would continue to do well.
During the meeting, the minister also agreed to officiate at the opening day of the event on June 11 at Harbour Mall, Sandakan Waterfront.
The vice president of STAN, Alexander Yee, thanked the minister for his full support to the event.
“It is the first event by STAN and what better person to have to officiate at the opening other than our very own Minister of Tourism, Culture and Environment. The minister has shown great support when we mooted the idea to start this association and we are glad that he continues to be behind us in our quest to promote Sandakan as a premier tourism destination of Sabah,” he said.
The event is also supported by Sandakan Municipal Council, Sabah Tourism Board, Sri Pelancongan Sabah, Ministry of Tourism, Arts and Culture, Tourism Malaysia, Sabah Wildlife Department, Sabah Cultural Board.