Home » Malaysia Travel News » Beluran Labuk Fest 2025 Celebrated as Sabah’s Cultural Treasure and Rural Growth Driver Published on
August 16, 2025The first-ever Beluran Labuk Fest 2025 struck a harmonious chord between culture and progress for Sabah. Spread across the Fama Tamu grounds in Beluran, the festival offered a stage for safeguarding living traditions, weaving together diverse village voices, and boosting the livelihoods of its rural heart. Presenting time-honoured customs side by side with contemporary projects, the event honoured yesterday while gently charting a brighter, shared tomorrow.For Beluran, a district famous for its rich farmland and stunning landscapes, bringing in a festival of this size was a game changer. The event wasn’t just about the villagers coming together for joy; planners saw it as a stepping stone to boost tourism across Sabah.Advertisement Heritage, Identity, and Community UnityAt the heart of the festival, cultural preservation was emphasised. Traditional music, local dances, and attire unique to Beluran were displayed to visitors, reflecting the depth of the district’s cultural identity. The participation of villagers and local artists was encouraged, highlighting how heritage could be celebrated collectively.The event’s communal atmosphere was portrayed as a model for togetherness. The spirit of cooperation demonstrated during the festival was pointed out as something that could be adopted to preserve heritage for future generations. Through performances and exhibitions, Beluran’s identity was projected as living and evolving, not just preserved in isolation.Launch of the Sabah Blood Cockle ProjectOne of the most notable highlights of the festival was the launch of the Sabah Blood Cockle Industry and Resource Development Project at Beluran Jetty. The project followed a successful pilot in Tuaran earlier in 2025 and was rolled out across 1,300 hectares of farming grounds in Beluran.Approximately 650 households were mobilised to participate in this aquaculture initiative. An estimated 3,240 metric tonnes of blood cockles are expected to be produced annually, with a value of RM 34.4 million. A potential seven-fold return on investment was projected, demonstrating both profitability and sustainability.The project was framed not only as an income generator but also as a safeguard for marine habitats. Through community-based aquaculture, both livelihoods and ecosystems were supported. Beluran was thus identified as a model district for sustainable seafood farming within Sabah’s broader blue e …
