Zaliha (third from left) at the festival’s pre-launch ceremony at Labuan International Sea Sports Complex Recreational Park. — Bernama
A burst of colours will enliven Labuan when it hosts the Borneo Flora Festival 2025 from July 26 to 30.
To be held at the Labuan International Sea Sports Complex, the inaugural festival will host 20 exhibition gardens.
These will enthral visitors with over 200,000 vibrant flowers and plants of diverse varieties, colours and purposes.
Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department (Federal Territories) Datuk Seri Dr Zaliha Mustafa told Bernama that the event was expected to attract over 50,000 visitors from the country.
She said efforts to attract participants and tourists from neighbouring Brunei are underway.
“This is not just a visual feast of beautiful flowers, but also a symbol of our nation’s rich biodiversity and a potential value-added boost to Malaysia’s horticulture industry,” she said at the festival’s pre-launch ceremony, held at the park.
She said the event would bring together floral enthusiasts, entrepreneurs and exhibitors from various parts of the country.
Event partners include hotels, land and sea transport providers, government agencies, local communities and the media.
Zaliha emphasised the government’s commitment to inclusive and sustainable development in Labuan.
She said the festival was an important initiative under the Labuan Tourism Task Force.
“While Labuan is known for its beaches and diving sites, more engaging programmes like the Borneo Flora Festival are needed to enhance the island’s tourism appeal,” she said.
Zaliha described the park as a strategic venue because it allowed visitors to enjoy floral displays while taking in views of the nearby Mawilla Beach.
The Labuan Corporation, she added, would work closely with the Federal Territories Department to promote the festival.
