Malaysia will play host to the inaugural International Conference and Exhibition on World Cultures 2023 (ICWC 2023) from September 7-10, 2023.
Organised by UDS Media and held at the MATRADE Exhibition and Convention Centre, the conference will address the challenges faced globally in sustainably conserving and marketing cultural tourism, which can benefit a country’s economic, social, and environmental growth.
ICWC president, Azmi Mustapha, said in a press release: “Tourism is a key pillar in the economy that creates employment and opportunities for every nation, and culture is one of the main driving forces for the growth of tourism. Having an event such as the ICWC2023 is a great opportunity for cultural promotion between nations. Through this event, we are able to aid in increasing cultural awareness as a whole, while at the same time, learning, educating, and exchanging knowledge of different cultures.”
Over the course of four days, ICWC2023 will host an international conference with speakers discussing topics such as preserving and promoting both tangible and intangible cultural heritage; methods to achieve a better state of economic and social well-being for all involved sectors; improvement on the tourist experience by promoting community-based tourism; sustainable tourism development; and more.
Apart from this, the conference will also include slots for a special feature presentation where delegates can share their experiences in cultural work & academic research, and showcase upcoming cultural events and projects to potential sponsors to acquire financial assistance.
There will also be an exhibition running concurrently. The exhibition is expected to welcome more than 10,000 visitors from across the globe to enjoy the cultural offerings from over 50 countries through 280 exhibits, six country pavilions, 20 traditional massage stations, 30 cultural performances, and four cultural and artistic performances.
According to the World Travel & Tourism Council, tourism is one of the largest industries in the world, accounting for 10.3 per cent or 333 million jobs and 10.3 per cent or US$ 9.6 trillion of the global GDP before Covid-19.
