PADAWAN: The Bidayuh Mystique Festival will be held on a grander scale in the coming years.
Deputy Minister of Plantation Industries and Commodities Datuk Willie Mongin said although it was held for the first time, the response received from the public was very encouraging.
He said there were applications for food and beverage stalls and exhibition space that could not be fulfilled due to space constraints, therefore next year’s event will be held on a bigger scale.
“The organising committee also received an encouraging response for the various competitions such as the traditional Bidayuh dance competition, the Dayung Remus beauty pageant, traditional Bidayuh cooking competition and the most popular, poco-poco dance.
“I believe the public wants the same event to be organised next year,” he said on the second night of the Bidayuh Mystique Festival held at the St Paul Bunuk Parish Hall yesterday.
Wille, who is also the MP for Puncak Borneo and patron of Segu Bunuk Penrissen Association (PSBP) called on the local community to help the state in promoting the country’s tourism products.
He said the uniqueness of the tradition, culture and heritage of the Bidayuh people should be highlighted in other countries.
“We can do it in small ways such as sharing it on social media or sharing it with friends with the pictures we take to entice and convince them that this (Sarawak) is a place they should visit,” he said.
He added that such efforts can attract many tourists to the state and the country as well as provide income and employment to local residents.
