Animals

Sabah to host Asia’s largest bird fair in October

Sixteen countries have confirmed participation as host plans activities, talks for all ages 

Updated 3 years ago · Published on 19 May 2023 10:00AM

Sabah to host Asia’s largest bird fair in October
Tourism, Culture and Environment Minister Datuk Christina Liew receiving a picture of a bird from the organising group for the 12th Asian Bird Fair. Sabah will be hosting the Asian Bird Fair this October. – Jason Santos pic, The Vibes, May 18, 2023

by Jason Santos

SABAH will be the place for avian enthusiasts to converge. The 12th Asian Bird Fair (ABF), the largest birding event in the region, will take place later this year.

The organiser, Sabah Bird Watchers Association, yesterday announced the fair will be held from October 13 to 17 at the Sabah International Convention Centre (SICC). 

Organising chairman, Roger Rajah, said ABF is expected to attract international and local delegates where activities including children’s birdwatching, webinars and photography competitions would be held for the public to take part. 

“We estimated around 2,000 people would visit the fair and based on early registrations, 16 countries have confirmed their participation, taking up a total of 30 booths. 

Liew chairing the Asian Bird Fair press conference in Kota Kinabalu today. – Jason Santos pic
Liew chairing the Asian Bird Fair press conference in Kota Kinabalu today. – Jason Santos pic

“We expect more to register before the event,” he told reporters here at the first public announcement of the ABF today. 

Also present was Tourism, Culture and Environment Minister Datuk Christina Liew. 

The ABF is an annual event created to highlight the different bird fairs in Asia, as well as to promote the protection of birds and their habitats, encourage birdwatching and other ecotourism activities in the Asian region. 

The ABF was previously held in the Philippines, Taiwan, South Korea and Malaysia’s Kuching. 

This is the first time Sabah will host the ABF. – The Vibes, May 19, 2023

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