First Tg Aru Beach Fes val Nov 23-25
The inaugural Tanjung Aru Beach Fes val organised by Sri Pelancongan Sdn Bhd will be held from November 23 to 25 at Prince Phillip Park, Tanjung Aru Beach, from 9am to 10pm.
KOTA KINABALU: The inaugural Tanjung Aru Beach Festival will be held from November 23 to 25 at Prince Phillip Park, Tanjung Aru Beach, from 9am to 10pm.
Ministry of Tourism, Culture and Environment through Sabah Tourism Board’s (STB) subsidiary Sri Pelancongan Sabah Sdn Bhd is the main organizer of the event.
Deputy Chief Minister Datuk Christina Liew said the event which would see collaboration with local associations and nongovernmental organizations for the three-day festival aimed to encourage beach-goers in keeping Kota Kinabalu beaches clean.
Christina, who is also the Minister of Tourism, Culture and Environment, said the Tanjung Aru beach had been neglected for a number of years.
“There is no activity there apart from some tourists who go there for the sunset.”
Hence, she hoped that the exciting event, which incorporated beach cleaning and fun activities, would bring back the former glory of Tanjung Aru Beach.
“This festival is a trash-free event and it is hoped that with the help of Kota Kinabalu City Hall (DBKK), we will be able to reinstate the beauty and cleanliness of Tanjung Aru, and continue to promote our public beaches as a tourism product with amazing sunset view all year round,” she said in a press conference here yesterday.
Christina said the event was also in line with Chief Minister Datuk Seri Panglima Shafie Apdal’s effort in kicking off beach cleaning in Semporna last week.
The Tanjung Aru Beach Festival features several highlights such as the Tanjung Aru Bird Photography Competition, Chinese Drums performance by the Federation of Chinese Associations Sabah (FCAS), hands-on marine life interaction at the Touch-Pool Aquarium by Sabah Parks, environmental film screenings by the Borneo Eco Film Festival (BEFF), Social Media Hangout Booth for submission of #ilovetanjungaru photos to be featured on the Tanjung Aru Memory Wall, and a joyride flight with Sabah Air Aviation where visitors can expect to see a bird’s eye view of the Tunku Abdul Rahman Park islands.
Other activities include Beach Soccer 3-on-3, sunset yoga by PAC Yoga, traditional sports with community-based tourism associations and creative workshops by numerous performing arts organizations.
Food trucks and a variety of stalls will also be available throughout the festival.
The event is set to kick off with a beach cleanup by Trash Hero Borneo together with Malaysia Airport Berhad and Kinabalu Pink Ribbon on November 23 (Friday) at 7.30am. Everyone is encouraged to come and lend a hand in this activity.
The sunset concert and launching ceremony will be held on November 24 (Saturday), featuring special performances by Atmosfera, Esther Applunius, Macam-Macam Music and more. Complete programme is available at www.hellosabah.my.
Also present were Permanent Secretary to the Ministry of Tourism, Culture and Environment Datu Rosmadi bin Datu Sulai and STB general manager Suzaini Datuk Sabdin Ghani.