By Shikin Louis
KUCHING, June 26: Sarawak’s iconic Rainforest World Music Festival (RWMF) remains a success despite a slight dip in attendance this year, which Minister for Tourism, Creative Industry and Performing Arts Dato Sri Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah attributed to the surge of music festivals across the region competing for audiences.
He revealed that this year’s edition drew a total of 22,148 attendees— a drop from last year’s estimated 25,000 to 26,000—but noted a shift in visitor demographics, saying more families are now attending the event together.
He expressed that the dip is not a setback but a natural outcome of an oversaturated concert landscape in Southeast Asia, with major cities such as Singapore, Kuala Lumpur, Jakarta and Manila hosting back‐to‐back big‐name shows since the post Covid surge in live music events.
“In Singapore, practically every month, there are big names coming in. In Kuala Lumpur also, if I’m not mistaken, the next one would be Bee Gees. There are so many. So it will be very tough for us, because going for a musical concert, the ticket price is always quite high.
“If they had been to Kuala Lumpur or Singapore, and we ask them to come down to Kuching again, they will have to think twice. But whatever it is, we will try to support all the organisations that want to hold concerts in Sarawak,” he told reporters when met at Baitul Makmur 2 building here today.
He stressed that ticket prices for RWMF were kept affordable with Sarawak government support and seed funding, allowing more local and regional audiences to enjoy the experience.
Abdul Karim further explained that while overall attendance numbers are important, the government’s priority is ensuring wider tourism benefits.
Between January and May this year, Abdul Karim disclosed that tourism receipts in Sarawak have consistently exceeded RM1 billion each month, with more foreign visitors contributing to higher tourism value overall.
“Even if we don’t hit the same target as before, it doesn’t mean it’s a failure. Many of the visitors who came this year are from outside Sarawak, meaning they stay in hotels, eat local food—this creates tourism spinoffs,” he said.
He also credited Sarawak’s strong commitment to safety and environmental sustainability as factors drawing international praise.
“Visitors feel safe here. We don’t hear of snatch thefts or harassment during the festival. Everyone comes to enjoy themselves,” he said, adding that initiatives like banning plastic water bottles and promoting refillable flasks were well received, especially by European media and tourists.
Looking ahead, Abdul Karim revealed that preparations are already underway for the 30th anniversary of RWMF in 2027, with plans to bring in at least one major international act each night for the three-day festival.
He estimated that organising the festival typically costs between RM2 million and RM3 million annually, but the return in tourism value and industry-wide benefit far outweighs the expenditure.
“We’re not doing this to make money. The government looks at how it benefits the community—from hotels and eateries to cultural and creative sectors,” he said.
He added that the surge in festival-related hotel bookings, particularly in Damai and across Kuching, reflected the event’s continued pull as one of Sarawak’s premier tourism products. — DayakDaily
