Sydney, July 2: The Rainforest World Music Festival (RWMF) 2024 concluded its 27th edition with a record-breaking attendance and a strong emphasis on responsible tourism.
From June 28th to 30th, over 26,000 visitors from around the globe gathered at the Sarawak Cultural Village, marking a 35 per cent increase from last year.
The theme for 2024, “Evolution,” underscored the festival’s commitment to sustainability, cultural exchange, and environmental stewardship.
The event featured a diverse lineup of 72 international and 75 local musicians, culminating in 22 acts that enthralled audiences.
Headlining performances included ‘The Best of Kitaro Live World Tour’ and Datuk Zainalabidin, with a memorable closing by the Havana Social Club.
Minister for Tourism, Creative Industry & Performing Arts Sarawak, Datuk Seri Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah, highlighted the festival’s role in promoting cultural exchange and environmental awareness. “RWMF 2024 serves as a platform for advocating sustainable tourism and conservation practices.
This year, the festival fulfilled its promise to be a melting pot of diverse cultures, a platform for exchange of ideologies, and environmental initiatives, elevating its significance to reach out to the younger generation.”
The festival grounds were left immaculate, demonstrating the success of Sarawak Tourism Board’s (STB) responsible tourism initiatives.
The “Green Ruai” area showcased innovations in sustainable practices through partnerships with Sarawak Energy, Eco Green Planet, and Sarawak Forestry Corporation.
Eco-stations for recycling, increased water stations to eliminate single-use plastic bottles, and free shuttle buses to reduce carbon emissions were part of these efforts.
Before RWMF 2024, the inaugural Rainforest Youth Summit (RAYS) 2024 was held from June 26th to 28th, with 1000 participants from 10 ASEAN countries.
This summit emphasized youth engagement in sustainability and conservation, and will now be an annual event.
Supported by sponsors such as Malaysian Aviation Group, TVS, Carlsberg, and Mitsubishi Malaysia, RWMF 2024 also offered ticket-purchasers chances to win prizes, including a Mitsubishi Triton 4X4 and an Ebixon Bold EV Bike.
RWMF 2024 has solidified its position as a premier global music event while reinforcing its commitment to sustainability and cultural exchange.
The festival left a lasting legacy of transformative experiences and a vision for a more sustainable future.
The next RWMF is scheduled for June 20th to 22nd, 2025.
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