Preparations are well underway for Bou Festival 2023 (BOUFEST 23) to be held over a three-day period, from the 6th to the 8th of October 2023 at the Bou Village in Alotau, Milne Bay Province.
The first to be hosted after almost two years, due to the Covid-19 Pandemic, BOUFEST 23 is themed ‘Promoting Agri-Tourism & Community Developments’ and is a showcase of the activities and products of the Bou Resources Development Cooperative Society (BRDCS).
Head of the BRDCS and the Organizing Committee, Mr. Noah Taugaloidi said he had just wrapped up talks with potential sponsors and was awaiting feedback.
“At this point we are trying to secure a major sponsor for the event and also put out the interest to outer islands. We are trying to share our story while also marketing opportunities to other people.”
With all the negative publicity that the Milne Bay Province has been receiving of late, particularly with all the law & order issues being experienced in the Province, Mr. Noah hopes to use the BOUFEST 23 to show people an alternative lifestyle from that of crime.
“I have been telling our potential sponsors that the BOUFEST 23 will be used to show people that there is hope in agriculture.”
Mr. Noah, when giving a rundown of the program, added that they are trying to plan the BOUFEST 23 so it coincides with the arrival of the P&O Pacific Encounter Cruise Ship.
“There will be an estimated 2, 000 international tourist on board the ship and seeing that my missus is a tour operator, I am trying to get her to work with other tour operators in Alotau, to bring a number of tourists down Bou Village for the BOUFEST.”
He explained that they will have cultural performances from the local groups at Bou Village, string band music.
“There is also the possibility of bringing a guest artist to perform during the event. Our last BOUFEST, we have K-Dumen from the Morobe Province, come down and perform and that’s a great attraction that boosted our visitor numbers. So hopefully, if we are able to, we can bring in another guest performer.”
Mr. Noah said the NGI Community in Alotau have also expressed their interest to perform during the BOUFEST 23, as well as a group from Aiyura. Baking competitions will also feature in the BOUFEST 23, as well as a choir competition for the night part of the program.
“I will meet with all of them next week and we will see how we can fit everybody in.” BOUFEST 23 is reigniting agritourism in Alotau, with the organizers already planning for and looking forward to a bigger and better show in the coming New Year.