BINTULU: The five-day Bintulu Tanglung Carnival 2018 which came to a close officially on Monday evening had attracted over 30,000 visitors.
The carnival organising chairman Chin Chee Fui said due to the overwhelming response, they proposed the event be considered for the Hornbill Tourism Award in conjunction with Visit Sarawak Year 2019.
The carnival was jointly organised by Federation of Registered Chinese Associations (Forca) Bintulu Division, Bintulu Resident Office and Bintulu Development Authority (BDA).
“All the records regarding this carnival will be submitted to the authority concerned at a later date,” said Chin when speaking at the closing ceremony on Monday evening officiated at by BDA general manager Rodziah Morshidi.
He said inter-cultural performances, food, and games were festured throughout the five-day event.
“Several programmes managed to attract over 8,000 people who were either there to witness or participate in the events.
“We could see there was no racial, religious or cultural barriers as the people mingled with one another during the festival in a joyful, harmonious and peaceful atmosphere. This was one of our objectives in organising this type of event,” he said.
The organisers he said hoped to come up with more programmes featuring different cultures in the next edition to promote better understanding among the people of different cultures and races.
“I thus would like to take this opportunity to call for closer cooperation and more support from the ministries and government bodies for events of this kind in the future which will be good for the society as a whole and the local tourism sector,” said Chin.
Also present were Forca Bintulu president Hii Toh Him, advisors Pemanca Datuk Dr Francis Toh, Datuk Pui Kian Onn and Datuk Pau Chiong Ung and Naim Bintulu regional general manager Abang Mahathir Mohamed.
(Standing from sixth right) Chin, Hii, Rodziah, Toh, Pui, Pau and other organising committee members pose for a group photo with the winners of the Bintulu Showdance competition.