Tawau to hold international cultural festival

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TAWAU: The second Tawau International Cultural Festival is expected to attract between 50,000 to 70,000 visitors, and tourist and tourism players are called to play their role and promote the many places of interest in the district.

Tawau Municipal Council (TMC) president Datuk Ismail Mayakob when confirming the festival date on February 11, said this year’s festival would showcase the traditional wedding ceremony of each ethnic group apart from their unique traditional dance that would be performed by the villagers themselves and not by performers.

“There are a lot of changes this year and 25 ethnic groups have already confirmed their participation,” he said at a press conference yesterday.

Ismail said apart from the many ethnic groups in Tawau, Johore Bahru and Sarawak had also confirmed their participation, while Indonesia and Brunei had given a positive response to the invitation,” he said.

He said in the morning, there would be a showcase and sales of traditional food and the highlights would be at night in front of the TMC building.

Ismail called on the community to show their support and premises owners to brighten their building with coloured lights and welcome visitors and tourists to Tawau.

He also called on tourism players and tour operators to tap on the festival and take advantage by promoting tour packages on the many places of interest in Tawau that need to be promoted.

“We have the tallest tropical tree in the world, famous golf resort, cocoa village and seafood,” he said.