By Nur Ashikin Louis
KUCHING, June 14: Sarawak is hoping to achieve the target of 12,000 spectators at this year’s Rainforest World Music Festival (RWMF).
State Tourism, Creative Industry and Performing Arts (MTCP) Minister Dato Sri Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah noted that the set target may be lower than the previous RWMF which managed to record more than 20,000 visitors in 2019.
However, the State has to be practical and take into account the fact that the nation has just transitioned into endemic phase of Covid-19 and foreigners still have the fear of travelling, he said.
“Over the last three years, we recorded 4.6 million number of visitors into the State but this year, we are only targeting 1.2 million visitors coming into Sarawak.
“So for RWMF, we are only targeting 12,000 (visitors) for this year and so far, we managed to sell 7,000 tickets which is already very good and more than what we have expected,” he said during a book launch of the ‘Rainforest World Music Festival – A Journey of 25 Years’ held at Baitulmakmur 2 building today.
Abdul Karim also mentioned that a hike in ticket sales is expected a day or two before RWMF due to last minute purchase by the locals.
He added that there will be shuttle bus service to ferry festivalgoers at three locations in Kuching, namely The Hills Shopping Mall, Riverside Majestic Hotel Astana Wing and Plaza Merdeka.
Members of the public can check the latest information about the shuttle bus schedule to the festival on RWMF’s official website at https://rwmf.net/.
The international event will take place from June 17 to 19 physically at Sarawak Cultural Village (SCV) while viewers can also livestream it from their homes via an online viewing platform.
He also informed that Randy Raine-Reusch, the very first Artistic Director of RWMF, has flown all the way from Canada to return and head the Artistic team once again for its 25th year anniversary.
Meanwhile, the ‘Rainforest World Music Festival – A Journey of 25 Years’ coffee table book launched earlier documents the growth of the festival and its significant impact on the local music scene and careers of local musicians such as Alena Murang and Bob Meldrick, as well as help shape the sape into an iconic world instrument.
“The book highlights the festival’s growth into one of the best-loved and most celebrated festivals in the world and its transformation into a fully virtual experience and finally to its transition into the incredible hybrid experience about to be launched this year, another Malaysian first,” he said.
The 170-page hardcover book will be available for sale at RWMF 2022 and at www.placeborneo.com.
For more information on how to purchase the book, call 082-555189.
Also present at the event were the MTCP’s permanent secretary Hii Chang Kee, the book’s co-authors Gracie Geikie and Karen Shepherd as well as RWMF 2022 artistic director Randy Raine-Reusch. — DayakDaily
