SEMPORNA: THE colourful sails of decorated lepa boats once again filled the waters off Semporna to celebrate the 31st Regatta Lepa, an annual festival that has become synonymous with the district’s maritime heritage and Bajau identity.
Held over three days beginning June 26, the festival featured the iconic lepa parade, cultural performances, water sports and exhibitions highlighting the traditions of the Bajau community.
Sabah Tourism, Culture and Environment Minister Datuk Jafry Ariffin said the annual event continued to play an important role in generating economic opportunities for local communities through tourism and cultural activities.
“This annual event creates economic opportunities for local residents and tourism operators. Through the programme, we see the response from both the community and visitors from within and outside the country who come in large numbers to witness the culture that exists in Semporna, particularly the lepa that we showcase to tourists,” he said after attending the second day, Saturday.
Jafry said the state government remained committed to preserving the heritage passed down through generations while ensuring the environment in Semporna was also protected.
“If we can balance culture, tourism and environmental conservation, we will certainly be able to elevate the tourism industry, especially in Semporna,” he said.
He added that the government, together with tourism industry players, would continue exploring ways to further promote the festival, which is usually held in June but whose dates vary each year depending on tidal conditions.
Among the foreign visitors attending the event was Shaun from the United Kingdom, who described the decorated boats as “beautifully designed” and praised the artistry and effort that went into creating them.
“There’s a lot of time and effort that’s gone into the art behind them. It’s really nice to see some of the other ethnic groups and their culture as well here in Semporna all together,” he said.
He felt the festival could benefit from wider promotion. “I only knew about this because I have friends who are here, so I was already aware. But maybe if I was just passing through, I would be very confused at what this event was,” he said.
Several visitors and long-time observers of the festival also hoped future dates for Regatta Lepa could be announced much earlier to allow tourists and industry players to make travel arrangements and market the event more effectively.
Some long-time festival-goers felt this year’s celebration attracted fewer visitors than in its peak years, attributing the decline partly to changing demographics as many people who once returned home for the annual celebration had since moved away for work or studies, particularly to Kota Kinabalu and Peninsular Malaysia.
Local historian and educator Zubir Osman, who has attended the event almost every year, said the crowds today were noticeably smaller.
“I remember around 2016 or 2017, traffic stretched from the town all the way to the roundabout near SMK Datuk Panglima Abdullah. We don’t really see that anymore,” he said.
Others felt the festival had remained largely unchanged over the years and could benefit from more interactive activities, such as cultural workshops, traditional games and community-based tourism experiences, to encourage visitors to spend more time at the festival and return in future years.
Several visitors also suggested that tourism authorities work more closely with tour operators, particularly those handling Chinese tourists, to package Regatta Lepa as a cultural tourism product.
Despite Semporna’s popularity among Chinese tourists as one of Sabah’s premier diving destinations, relatively few Chinese visitors were seen at the event.
