Bau fest puts culture at the heart of tourism

BAU, 10 May 2026 - The Bau Cultural and Tourism Festival 2026 (Pesta Kebudayaan dan Pelancongan Bau 2026) was held on May 8 & 9 at the REDEEMS Centre in Singai, here, with Malaysia’s Tourism Minister calling on the country to see Bau’s living culture as its biggest draw for visitors.

In launching the event yesterday, Minister of Tourism, Arts and Culture, Dato Sri Tiong King Sing said that what makes Bau special is not just its scenery or history, but the way its communities still live and practise their traditions today.

The Bidayuh community, he said, is central to that identity.

“Culture is not just performances or traditional costumes, but the way communities respect each other, live together and maintain relationships with one another,” he said.

Bau sits about 40 kilometres from Kuching and is known for its gold mining past and its strong community traditions. The minister said these qualities make it well suited for tourism, especially as more travellers look for real, meaningful experiences rather than just sightseeing.

“Tourists today do not just want to see interesting places, but want to understand the culture, see the life of local communities and feel a genuine experience,” he said.

With Visit Malaysia 2026 in full swing, the Minister said Bau is in a good position to attract this kind of visitor. He announced that he would ask Tourism Malaysia to include the Bau Cultural and Tourism Festival in the official Visit Malaysia calendar, giving it wider promotion as a long-term tourism product.

He also gave his backing to the proposed Bau Tourism and Culture Park, and invited relevant parties to submit full proposals and cost estimates. He said the project could be considered for inclusion in the Rolling Plan 2028.

The Minister said besides tourism, culture also plays an important role in keeping communities together.

“When we understand each other’s culture and customs, many misunderstandings can be avoided. Relations between communities also become better and more harmonious,” he said.

He closed by reminding local stakeholders to always be ready to receive visitors, and not to wait until tourists arrive before making preparations.

The festival continues over the coming days with traditional performances, cultural showcases, local crafts and food.