Singkawang targets one million visitors for 2026 Cap Go Meh festival

The Singkawang city government in West Kalimantan is targeting one million tourist visits at the 2026 Cap Go Meh festival celebration, which reaches its peak on 3 March 2026.

Singkawang Mayor Tjhai Chui Mie stated that tourist visit trends over the past three years demonstrate significant growth, making the target realistic.

“In 2023, the number of visits reached 606,663 people. In 2024, because it coincided with the presidential election and only a mini Cap Go Meh was held, 305,496 visits were recorded. Meanwhile, in 2025 it increased to 702,056 visits,” he said during a media briefing in Singkawang on Friday.

Based on the upward trend from 2023 to 2025, the potential surge in visits in 2026 is substantial, particularly as the Singkawang Cap Go Meh Festival has become nationally recognised as an annual cultural event with strong appeal.

He assessed that increased tourist visits have a direct impact on the circulation of the community’s economy, particularly in the hotel, culinary, transport sectors and micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs).

“This one million visit target is not merely a figure, but part of a strategy to strengthen Singkawang as a leading tourism destination based on culture and tolerance,” he said.

The Cap Go Meh festival is the peak of the lunar new year celebrations in Singkawang that annually attracts both domestic and international tourists.

The Singkawang city government is optimistic that with the support of all stakeholders, the 2026 Cap Go Meh event can run smoothly whilst providing broader economic benefits for the community.

Meanwhile, the head of Singkawang’s tourism, youth and sports department, Mokhlis, stated that several hotels are already fully booked by tourists. He noted that overall there are 47 hotels in Singkawang ready to accommodate visitors during the Cap Go Meh celebrations.

“Of that number, several hotels are already fully booked. These include Swiss-Belinn Singkawang, Hotel Mahkota Singkawang, Hotel Sentosa Singkawang, Hotel Hongkong Inn Singkawang, Hotel Cyndhai Singkawang, Hotel City Room Singkawang and Bobo Inn Singkawang,” he said.

He explained that although some hotels remain available, occupancy rates are expected to continue increasing as it approaches the peak of the Cap Go Meh celebrations on 3 March.

According to Mokhlis, the Cap Go Meh festival, which is an annual event known nationally, is predicted to again attract a surge of domestic and international tourists.

“The Cap Go Meh momentum always impacts increased tourist visits. This certainly provides a positive effect on the circulation of the community’s economy, ranging from the hotel sector, culinary, to MSMEs,” he said.