SEMPORNA: The 2010 Lepa Regatta, among the annual events in Semporna’s tourism calendar, is set to offer more colour and excitement when compared to the previous years as between 10,000 and 60,000 visitors are expected to watch the Bajau boat race. (Lepa is Bajau for single-masted sailing boat).Chairman for the carnival’s organising committee A M Ibnu A K Baba said apart from the usual lineup of events, the regatta carnival would have a difference this year.
“This year, the carnival will be staged on April 24-25. In the previous years, the hightlight of the boat race carnival was on the opening day but this year, it will be on the final day.
“On the first day, we will perform the soft opening for the usual events like the decorative lepa competition, sea sports and exhibition for the visitors,” A M Ibnu told Bernama here.
He said the Sarawak Yang Dipertua Negeri Tun Abang Muhammad Salahuddin Abang Barieng is expected to grace the carnival, where the opening ceremony will be performed by Sabah Yang Dipertua Negeri Sabah Tun Ahmadshah Abdullah.
A M Ibnu, who is the Semporna District Officer said this year, the event would see the unveiling of a tourism facility and several new tourism products in Semporna.
The facility is the Semporna Tourist Jetty and Information Centre which is 80 per cent completed.
He said the 0.4 hectare jetty, located some half a kilometre from Semporna town, would house the offices of tourism-related government agencies such as the Sabah Park and Marine Department.
“All tourism operators in Semporna will be located there. The jetty will have facilities like a wide parking area for vehicles, clean toilets, restaurant and cafeteria for the benefit of tourists,” he said.
“Tourists who wish to visit the resort islands can make a stopover at the jetty before proceeding to their respective destination,” he said.
According to A M Ibnu, new tourism products would be introduced for Semporna visitors and would be on display during the carnival.
Among these products are the opportunity for tourists to take rides in the Lepa and Sapit traditional Bajau boats.
On previous occasions, the tourists were only able to view the Lepa and Sapit but now they have the opportunity to be in these vessels.
He said the activity would give the chance for foreign visitors to experience the Bajau way of life in Semporna.
After the carnival, the Lepa and Sapit would be moved to the jetty.
Tourists can use the Lepa, that measures about 10 metres to sail to Tandu Bolong waters. As for the 18-20 metre-long Sapit, it can be used to get to the Tun Sakaran Marine Park.
“During the carnival, another tourism product which is the Borneo Semporna Probocsis Monkey River Cruise at Tanggulangan, 15 km from Semporna town will be unveiled,” he said.
A M Ibnu said via this package, tourists would be taken on a cruise along Sungai Pegagau for half an hour where they can view the Proboscis Monkey and mangrove jungles located on either side of the river. — Bernama