By Shikin Louis
KUCHING, Aug 20: WAK Festival has grown nearly 10-fold in audience footfall since its inception in 2017, drawing about 690,000 visitors and generating an estimated RM67 million in overall economic impact across Kuching, Miri and Sibu last year.
Sarawak Minister for Tourism, Creative Industry and Performing Arts Dato Sri Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah said the festival recorded 73,680 visitors and an estimated return on investment (ROI) of RM9.65 million in its first year.
“From the time when it was first introduced in 2017 until 2025, it has leapfrogged 10 times.
“So you can see this is a very good event,” he said during a press conference after launching the WAK Festival 2026 Calendar Programme at The Spring Shopping Mall here today.
Abdul Karim said the growth had translated into wider economic benefits for local communities, particularly hotels, restaurants and creative industry players.
“The real beneficiaries of this kind of events are the community — the restaurants, the hotels. That’s why some of the hotels now, it’s so difficult for people to get a room,” he said.
In his speech, Abdul Karim said WAK’s continued growth could not depend solely on government support or the efforts of its organisers.
“A festival that proudly declares itself by the community, for the community needs the community behind it,” he said.
He called on corporations, businesses and brands to come forward as sponsors and partners, saying greater private-sector participation was needed to support Sarawak’s creative community.
For its eighth edition this year, WAK Festival will run from Oct 1 to 31, featuring 83 unique events, 440 event occurrences, 49 collaborators and 14 genres.
Also present were Deputy Minister for Tourism Datuk Sebastian Ting; Deputy Minister for Creative Industry and Performing Arts Datuk Snowdan Lawan; Sarawak Tourism Board (STB) chairman Datuk Dennis Ngau; Padawan Municipal Council (MPP) chairman Tan Kai; Kuching North City Commission (DBKU) director Ramzi Abdillah; and WAK Festival Founding Directors Donald Tan and Marina Foo. — DayakDaily
