Borneo Flora Festival 2025 Breaks Visitor Record, Cements Status As Labuan’s Flagship Event

By Jailani Hasan

LABUAN, Aug 1 (Bernama) -- The Borneo Flora Festival (BFF) 2025 has officially set a new benchmark in Labuan’s event history, attracting 104,543 visitors in just five days, making it the most attended event ever held on the island and surpassing previous major festivals in terms of turnout and impact.

Held at the Labuan International Sea Sports Complex, the five-day celebration of botanical beauty featured more than 250,000 colourful flowering plants and drew crowds from across Malaysia, Brunei, Kalimantan (Indonesia), and Timor Leste. 

The number of visitors not only broke records but also far surpassed the initial target of 50,000, positioning the festival as a strong contender to become Labuan’s flagship annual event.

Labuan Corporation chief executive officer Mohd Sukuran Taib said the overwhelming response exceeded expectations and was a proud moment for Labuan’s tourism and community.

“The festival attracted 104,543 visitors, breaking previous records for major events on the island. It’s a testament to Labuan’s growing appeal as a destination for eco-tourism, cultural exchange, and community engagement,” he told Bernama today.

The event was further elevated by the presence of Her Majesty Raja Zarith Sofiah, Queen of Malaysia, who graced the festival and toured several of the uniquely crafted floral exhibits, including those highlighting rare Bornean flora.

Among the star attractions were 29 rare plant species, including the striking black orchid (Coelogyne pandurata), the exotic blue Vanda coerulea, rare cactus varieties, and the vibrant desert rose (Adenium obesum). 

The centrepiece of the festival, however, was a majestic Nepenthes rajah, the world’s largest pitcher plant native to Borneo, drawing admiration from botanists, nature lovers, and curious visitors alike.

Complementing the main exhibit was a special showcase of rare pitcher plants brought from the highlands of Sabah. 

Displayed within a specially constructed air-conditioned tent named Permata Hutan Borneo, visitors marvelled at six extraordinary species of Nepenthes: Nepenthes villosa, Nepenthes edwardsiana, Nepenthes stenophylla, Nepenthes burbidgeae, Nepenthes lowii, and Nepenthes reinwardtiana.

Themed ‘Borneo Tropical Flora: Heritage and Harmony’, the festival featured 31 themed garden installations, educational exhibits, plant showcases, and cultural performances by participants from government agencies, NGOs, local communities, and private sectors across Borneo.

Sukuran added that the economic ripple effect of the festival has been significant, boosting local businesses, including hotels, homestays, food vendors, and tourism-related services.

“The spillover impact has been remarkable...this festival not only revived tourism momentum post-pandemic but also showcased the potential of Labuan as a botanical and cultural hub,” he said.

In light of its success, the federal government is reportedly exploring the possibility of making the Borneo Flora Festival an annual fixture, aimed at strengthening Labuan’s identity as a premier eco-tourism destination.

The event concluded with a colourful floral parade and prize presentation ceremony honouring the most creative garden displays, while reinforcing key messages on biodiversity conservation, sustainable landscaping, and regional cultural heritage.

-- BERNAMA