Sepilok Jazz Festival draws nearly 3,000 visitors, boosts Sandakan tourism
SANDAKAN: The recently concluded Sepilok Jazz Festival attracted nearly 3,000 people this year, up from 2,200 last year, as the event continued to boost tourism and business activity in Sandakan, said organiser Alexander Yee.
SANDAKAN - The Sepilok Jazz Festival, held recently, attracted nearly 3,000 visitors this year, a significant increase from the 2,200 who attended last year, according to organizer Alexander Yee. The annual event continues to boost tourism and business in Sandakan, with the number of musicians rising from 30 in the early years to 105 this year, with performers from Malaysia, Singapore, Indonesia and Italy.
Malaysian Mandopop singer Shila Amzah, who was performing in China at the time, took a three-day break to perform at the festival at the Rainforest Discovery Centre. Three performance areas were set up to accommodate the growing number of acts. Despite selling RM110,000 worth of tickets, the festival struggled to cover costs due to high expenses.
However, it still positively impacted the local economy, with hotels, restaurants and lodges experiencing strong business during the slow tourist season in September. The festival, first held in 2022, aims to raise awareness of the Walai Penyu Conservation Park on Libaran Island and plans to set up 10 homestay houses to qualify under the Malaysian Homestay Experience Programme, with each costing RM100,000 to construct.
Sabah Tourism, Culture and Environment Minister Datuk Jafry Ariffin attended the festival and praised Sepilok Jazz for enriching Sabah's cultural and artistic landscape and contributing to Sandakan's economy and tourism industry.
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