The Malaysian government has agreed to allow meetings, incentives, conferences, and exhibitions to take place in Movement Control Order (MCO) areas beginning March 5, but with a 25 per cent limit on the capacity of the premises, up to a maximum of 250 people in very large venues.
The Malaysian Association of Convention and Exhibition Organisers and Suppliers (MACEOS) voiced hope this will be the start of a more substantial recovery for the business events industry.
Its president, Francis Teo said: “We want to thank the government for giving us this lifeline. After months of lobbying for the opening of business events, we view this as the start of better things to come.”
The news was timely, he said, citing a recent survey done among members of MACEOS in which almost 64 per cent of respondents shared that they wouldn’t be able to survive another three months if the MCO was not lifted soon and events could not be organised.
However, he noted that the continued restriction on inter-district and inter-state travel since January 13 would limit the success of the reopening of business events.
He said: “As long as this travel restriction is not lifted, then the green light on business events will not be of many benefits to industry players. It is unlikely that events (will be limited to only) participants from only one district.”
He also voiced concern over the recent statement made by the Ministry of Health that travel restrictions would be extended until 70 per cent of the population was vaccinated.
Teo said: “The vaccination programme is only expected to be completed by early next year. If we are to wait until then, that may mean another year or so of the travel ban. The vaccination may save us, but it may be too late as the travel ban will kill us.”
He offered to work closely with industry players and the government to develop guidelines that would facilitate the reopening of business events safely.
One of the solutions Teo brought forth was asking the government to allow event participants to cross districts or state borders with proof of event registration while the travel ban is still in place.
He stressed: “Business events is an industry that supports all other industries in the economy. The re-opening of business events during these difficult times is the surest way to revitalise our local and national economy and lift Malaysia out of this economic slump.”
