Borneo Jazz Festival 2014 Expects 9,000 Visitors Despite MH370 Tragedy

MIRI (Sarawak, Malaysia), April 24 (Bernama) -- The ninth edition of the Borneo Jazz Festival (BJ), to be held here next month, is targeting 9,000 visitors with 70 per cent of them, foreigners. Sarawak Tourism Board (STB) chief executive officer, Rashid Khan said the target could be achieved despite the challenging time in the global tourism industry such as the MH370 tragedy. "It is not impossible to achieve this target," he told a news conference after the state coordination meeting on BJ 2014 chaired by Sarawak Tourism Ministry's permanent secretary Ik Pahon Joyik, here, Wednesday. "We are looking at attracting jazz music lovers from Asia, especially from Singapore, Brunei, the Philippines and Thailand to BJ 2014 and if possible, from Australia too," he said. Rashid said one of the new events this year would be the jamming session with the musicians and those interested could bring along their own musical instruments. BJ 2014 is scheduled to be held from May 9 to 10 at Parkcity Everly Hotel, Miri. It is organised by STB and supported by the federal Tourism Ministry and state's Tourism Ministry. Meanwhile, STB in a statement distributed to the media Wednesday said BJ 2013 attracted 8,500 visitors with an estimated 30 per cent of them, foreigners. It said the accumulative spin-off to the local economy was estimated to be more than US$4.59 million (RM15 million) in 2013. Tickets to the jazz festival are being sold at US$15 (RM50) per day and US$29 (RM95) for two days for adults while for children, they are priced at US$7 (RM25) per day and US$13 (RM45) for two days. During the festival itself, the tickets for adults will cost US$21 (RM70) and US$39 (RM130) respectively and for children aged three to 12 years, US$9 (RM30) and RM50 respectively. Eight bands; two from Malaysia and six from foreign countries, will perform at the festival. For more information on the event, visit www.jazzborneo.com -- BERNAMA