DTTG hopes Lantern Festival will become annual affair
SIBU: Sibu Division Tourism Task Group ( DTTG) is encouraging Sibu Municipal Council (SMC) and Sibu Chinese Chamber of Commerce and Industry ( SCCCI) to make the Lantern Festival an annual event.
DTTG chairman Hii Chang Kee, who is Sibu Resident, said the festival this year was a great success in view of the good turn-out and comments on social media.
“DTTG Sibu Division supports this initiative by SMC and SCCCI. This is a model example of active community participation in promoting local culture, tradition and festivals besides contributing to local tourism.
“DTTG is encouraging the Council and SCCCI to make it an annual event. We are confident that everyone would look forward to this event regardless of racial and religious background,” he told The Borneo Post yesterday.
Meanwhile, SCCCI president Dr Hii Sui Cheng said they (SCCCI) are happy with the positive response to the display of lanterns at the Sibu Town Square.
The display will end on Oct 28 instead of Oct 26 as initially planned. The festival at Sibu Town Square Phase 1 started on Oct 3.
“The extension is to cater to visitors who will be in Sibu for a toastmasters conference (Oct 27 to 29),” Sui Cheng explained.
He said some of the lanterns put up by SCCCI did not withstand the onslaught of unusually strong wind and heavy rain. “Therefore, we have to be mindful of the unpredictable rough weather for future similar festivals,” he said
“I would also like to appeal to visitors to be more civic conscious by refraining from littering,” he added.
The festival is organised in conjunction with Visit Sibu Year (VSY) 2017.