The Penang Convention & Exhibition Bureau is intensifying its efforts to go after the Indian meetings and incentives market starting this year, as it is among the Malaysian city’s top five markets for business events.
This comes off the back of the Malaysian government’s initiative to introduce the free e-visa facility in 2017.
PCEB’s CEO, Ashwin Gunasekeran, said its inaugural roadshow in January to four Indian cities – Kolkata, Delhi, Mumbai and Bengaluru – with 18 Malaysian partners including hoteliers, PCOs and event management companies was “very fruitful and positive”.
He added: “It was an eye-opener for many Indian agents we met as they did not know Penang had so many interesting and diverse products to offer for incentives and post tours. We have heritage attractions, hills, shopping, food and beaches. They were amazed. We will soon be organising a media and agent fam trip for Indian agents from those cities.”
“In 2018, we plan to do a repeat of the Indian roadshow. We will invite new partners, as well as extend our reach to new cities in India. India is a huge market and we are just scratching the surface,” he revealed.
Next month, Subterranean Penang International Convention and Exhibition Centre will be the venue for the V-Conference. It will bring in approximately 20,000 participants, a majority of whom are from India.
