KUCHING: If it weren’t for sponsors, the 20th edition of the Rainforest World Music Festival (RWMF) would not have become a reality.
This was said by Minister of Tourism, Arts, Culture, Youth, and Sports Datuk Haji Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah during an appreciation dinner for the sponsors of the festival at Culture Club here on Wednesday.
“The festival has come a long way from just 300 attendees in 1998 to a crowd over 18,000 recorded last year.
“As the festival continues to grow, the support received becomes indispensable and essential in making the festival a success and a benchmark of all similar international festivals in the region,” he said, at the same time thanking the sponsors who responded to the call for support and assistance.
He also thanked all relevant government departments, agencies, and organisations who have supported them in organising the festival, as well as thanking volunteers.
Meanwhile, Sarawak Tourism Board (STB) chairman Datuk Haji Abdul Wahab Aziz expressed his appreciation of having dedicated sponsors every year for the event.
“We have sponsors that provide support in many forms including logistics and transportation, telecommunication services, as well as monetary means.
“The sponsorships are your contributions towards the tourism industry as a whole,” said Wahab.
Among some of the sponsors (for various means) for the world-renowned festival include Malaysia Airlines, GrabCar, Maxis, Sarawak Energy, Cahya Mata Sarawak, as well as Culture Club that will be the official venue for upcoming previews for the festival.
Also present during the event were Assistant Minister of Tourism, Arts, and Culture Datuk Lee Kim Shin and Assistant Minister of Youth and Sports Snowdan Lawan.
