Latest news with #BFF)2025
Barnama
4 days ago
- Entertainment
- Barnama
Borneo Flora Festival 2025 Attracts Over 37,000 Visitors On Opening Day
LABUAN, July 27 (Bernama) -- The Borneo Flora Festival (BFF) 2025 got off to a vibrant start yesterday, drawing a total of 37,130 visitors on its first day alone. Minister in the Prime Minister's Department (Federal Territories) Datuk Seri Dr Zaliha Mustafa said the impressive figure was recorded through the artificial intelligence-based closed circuit television (AI-CCTV) monitoring system operated by the Labuan Corporation that is used to manage crowd flow and ensure visitor safety throughout the five-day event. 'Crowd response is overwhelming and reflects the growing popularity of the BFF as a premier tourism and cultural attraction in Labuan,' she said after visiting the festival grounds today. Dr Zaliha added that the festival not only brings colour and joy to the island, but also serves as an economic catalyst, especially for local businesses, vendors, homestay operators and eateries. 'With more than 37,000 visitors in just one day, we are already seeing the economic spillover. Hoteliers, food stalls, local artisans and even home-based entrepreneurs are benefiting tremendously from this influx,' she said. This year's BFF 2025, themed 'Borneo Tropical Flora', features floral parades, garden installations, traditional dance and music performances, and exhibitions that showcase Borneo's rich botanical and cultural heritage. The event also includes participation from neighbouring regions such as Sabah, Sarawak, Kalimantan and Brunei. The inaugural festival was graced by Her Majesty Raja Zarith Sofiah, Queen of Malaysia, further elevating the significance and prestige of the event's opening day. Over 50,000 visitors are being targeted to attend the five-day celebration, which runs until July 30.
Barnama
5 days ago
- Business
- Barnama
Borneo Flora Festival 2025 Spurs Socioeconomic Reform, Regional Cooperation In Labuan
LABUAN, July 26 (Bernama) -- The inaugural Borneo Flora Festival (BFF) 2025 is more than just a vibrant showcase of tropical blooms and landscape artistry. It is part of a broader strategy under the MADANI Government's reform agenda to realign Labuan's development priorities and steer the island towards a more inclusive and sustainable economic future. Minister in the Prime Minister's Department (Federal Territories) Datuk Seri Dr Zaliha Mustafa, in her speech at the official launch of the BFF 2025 here today, said that the festival was designed not merely to add to Labuan's event calendar, but to serve as a catalyst for diversification and socioeconomic revitalisation. 'Labuan recorded a gross domestic product (GDP) per capita of RM87,000 in 2024, the second highest in as I've often reiterated, this economic figure does not reflect the lived experiences of the people. 'The island's economic reliance on the oil and gas sector has waned compared to 10 to 15 years ago,' she said. Dr Zaliha said as part of the government's reformist approach, Labuan's development focus has been recalibrated and the outcome is already evident; Labuan's GDP per capita grew by 5.4 per cent in 2024, outpacing the national average. The island also recorded over one million visitors last year, a 15.7 per cent increase from the previous year, signalling the growing potential of its tourism industry. 'To capitalise on this momentum, we have, over the past year, intensified our focus on developing the tourism sector, which is more sustainable and closer to the people. The BFF is one of the key drivers of this strategic shift,' she said. The minister said the festival's impact is expected to go beyond tourism, generating local socioeconomic opportunities, particularly for the hotel, food, and small business sectors.
