Sarawak’s business events sector reached a historic milestone in 2025, driven by the Tribe Legacy Sarawak campaign.
In FY2025, Sarawak secured 160 business events, achieving 115 per cent of its annual target. These secured events, scheduled between 2025 and 2030, are projected to generate a total economic impact of RM483.5 million (US$119.2 million).
Projected direct delegate expenditure stands at RM262.8 million, generating RM29 million in tax revenue across 177,453 delegate days. Sarawak also maintained a 100 per cent bid success rate from 2022, demonstrating sustained international confidence in Sarawak’s destination leadership and ecosystem readiness.
On the hosting front, Sarawak successfully delivered 159 business events in 2025, a 27 per cent increase compared to the previous year. The events generated RM491.4 million in total economic impact, including RM267 million in direct delegate expenditure. These events attracted 59,926 delegates, contributed RM29.5 million in tax revenue, and supported more than 38,000 jobs across the state.
Minister for Tourism, Creative Industry and Performing Arts, Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah, stated that the results have repositioned Sarawak from an overlooked destination to the “legacy capital” of business events in the region.
He added that as Business Events Sarawak (BESarawak) approaches its 20th anniversary in 2026, the sector is entering the final phase of the Post Covid-19 Development Strategy (PCDS) 2030.
The next five years will focus on deepening data intelligence and digitalisation. Under the legacy initiative, 13 high-value international events have already been aligned with strategic sectors like hydrogen, the digital economy, and aerospace. Additionally, a pilot programme is currently measuring the social and community outcomes of 60 legacy-focused events to ensure sustainable value for the state.
