KUCHING – Sarawak has raked in over RM4 billion in tourism receipts in the past four months of 2025, a boost driven in part by flagship events such as the Rainforest World Music Festival (RWMF), which kicked off its 28th edition yesterday at the Sarawak Cultural Village.
Tourism, Creative Industry and Performing Arts Minister Datuk Seri Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah said the state recorded tourism-related earnings exceeding RM1 billion each month since earlier this year — a reflection of the sector’s growing role in Sarawak’s economy.
“When I say tourism receipts, it involves the spillover that goes into the hotels, going into the food and hospitality industry,” he told reporters during a press conference at the festival grounds on Friday.
“So those that come in for the Rainforest Music Festival, they have to stay somewhere, they have to eat our food, they have to use our transport, and a lot of them are bringing back souvenirs.”
He stressed that the ministry does not evaluate the RWMF’s success solely through ticket sales, but considers its wider contribution to Sarawak’s economic ecosystem.
“We always look at it holistically. That is why the ministry is prepared to come up with so many events, whether it is musical events, cultural events, food and drinks in the whole of Sarawak,” he said.
Last year alone, the ministry supported 294 events — nearly one every day — as part of its strategy to sustain visitor inflows year-round.
Abdul Karim added that tourism currently contributes 8% to the state’s gross domestic product (GDP), underlining its importance as a key economic pillar that supports entrepreneurs and lower-income communities.
Also present at the press conference were Deputy Tourism Minister Datuk Sebastian Ting Chiew Yew, ministry Permanent Secretary Datuk Sherinna Hussaini, and Sarawak Tourism Board (STB) Chief Executive Officer Sharzede Datuk Salleh Askor.
Sharzede said that while the tangible benefits of events like RWMF are evident in visitor spending, the long-term payoff also lies in Sarawak’s growing global visibility.
“It is a long-term thing – from a digital point of view, the reach of how many millions know about Sarawak. They may not come now but they are aware of Sarawak,” she said.
“They know what is happening and that will excite them. So that will be the one that will trigger the number of visitors coming into Sarawak. It’s not immediate, but that is the impact of it.”
Now in full swing until June 22, RWMF 2025 is expected to draw some 30,000 attendees to the foot of Mount Santubong. This year’s theme, “Connections: One Earth, One Love”, reinforces the event’s environmental mission, with sustainable practices such as plastic-free zones, water refill points, and tree-planting initiatives taking centre stage.
The three-day festival features over 170 musicians from 20 countries, including headline act Earth, Wind & Fire Experience by Al McKay, Japan’s Seppuku Pistols, Thailand’s Paradise Bangkok Molam International Band, and Malaysia’s own At Adau and Buluh Berkocak.
With plans for improved infrastructure and a Sarawak-owned airline on the horizon, Abdul Karim believes the state is poised to attract even bigger events in future. — June 21, 2025