By Amanda L
KUCHING, June 24: Rising airfares and limited air connectivity are influencing travel demand for the Rainforest World Music Festival (RWMF), although ticket sales remain encouraging with steady regional interest, Sarawak Tourism Board (STB) chief executive officer Dr Sharzede Datu Salleh Askor says.
According to her, the festival continues to draw a strong base of visitors from Southeast Asia, particularly Singapore, Brunei and West Malaysia which remain the main source markets for this year’s edition.
“Australia also remains a consistent long haul market. However, arrivals from Europe are comparatively lower this year. Interest from India is still being observed, supported by ongoing travel package collaborations with aviation partners,” she told reporters during a press conference held after the opening ceremony of Rainforest Youth Summit (RAYS) 2026 here today.
She said the current travel environment has been affected by higher airfares driven by broader global factors impacting the aviation industry, which has had a direct influence on visitor movement patterns as Sarawak is primarily accessible by air.
Despite these challenges, Sharzede said overall ticket sales remain positive, with encouraging responses from both regional and domestic markets.
To help boost visitor numbers, she said collaboration with Malaysia Aviation Group (MAG) and other travel partners is being strengthened through bundled travel packages designed to make access to the festival more convenient.
Dr Sharzede said the festival continues to attract international visitors, including dignitaries and returning festival goers, describing the response as stable and encouraging despite external pressures.
At the same time, she emphasised that safety and visitor experience remain priorities, with RWMF maintaining its positioning as a secure and family friendly cultural tourism event.
Now entering its third decade, RWMF remains one of Sarawak’s flagship cultural tourism products, renowned for its fusion of indigenous music traditions and contemporary performances.
She further added that the concept continues to be carefully preserved to ensure cultural authenticity while remaining relevant to younger audiences, reinforcing its long standing appeal on the international festival circuit. — DayakDaily
