Kota Kinabalu: Sabah Cultural Board will consider offering rebates and discounts to countries which have difficulty in paying the advance fees for the 11th Sabah International Folklore Festival (SIFF).
Sabah Tourism, Culture and Environment Minister Datuk Seri Masidi Manjun said these rebates will be offered based on their previous record of participation as well as their distance from the State.
"I have discussed with State Cultural Board General Manager Datu Rosmadi Datu Sulai and so far, there are only seven countries who had registered…the participation is limited to 10 groups this year.
"And we realised that favourite participants like Kazakhstan have yet to confirm their participation.
"I was made to understand that among the reasons given were these countries can't afford to pay the advance fee of US$30 for each group member," he said during the launching of SIFF official website at Wisma Tun Fuad Stephens, here, Thursday.
Citing Kazakhstan, Masidi said the group has to take two days to reach Sabah and the implementation of the advance fee made the situation harder for them.
"We are willing to consider giving rebates and discounts to countries which had been consistent in their participation for SIFF.
"This is one of the ways to reduce their burden, especially those who come from far as it will involve big expenses."
He reiterated that Sabah Cultural Board does not gain any profit through the advance fees payment.
"The fees don't pose a significant impact on cost reduction to organise SIFF. We imposed the fees so that participants will take this event seriously.
"Should we make it easier to be participated, then the risks of getting low quality participation is higher.
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