The corporate sector in Malaysia has been urged to play a bigger role to support the local business events industry by organising incentive trips, conferences, meetings and exhibitions domestically.
Malaysia Convention & Exhibition Bureau (MyCEB) CEO Abdul Khani Daud said he has been encouraging the business events sector to start thinking more creatively to help stimulate the economy.
For example, Abdul Khani said a small board of directors meeting can be held in a green setting such as the Belum Rainforest, instead of a boardroom in the city.
Currently, MyCEB is researching, developing and identifying such niche products and unique venues that are suitable for business events.
In addition, MyCEB plans to organise roadshows to the country’s major MICE destinations – Penang, Selangor, Melaka, Johor, Sabah and Sarawak in coming months.
Recently, the first business exchange session was organised in Kuala Lumpur in conjunction with MyCEB’s annual flagship event, Malaysia Business Events Week. This sixth edition incorporated a B2B trade component for the first time.
Abdul Khani has also been encouraging venues to invest in upgrading their technology, as technology will drive the business events industry forward.
When asked how large-scale events might take place in the future, he envisioned: “Take for example a hybrid meeting for 5,000 participants. Two thousand of them could be in Kuala Lumpur, another 1,000 in Penang, 1,000 in Sabah and 1,000 in Sarawak. After the conference, they could go for post tours and enjoy themselves in their chosen destination.”
Abdul Khani also plans to revamp MyCEB’s website to make it a user-friendly, one-stop information centre on business events-related matters in the country, which includes information on various MICE venues.
MyCEB will also assist and support potential homegrown events so that such they can grow in size and stature and pull in an international audience when the situation improves.
Infrastructure development across Labuan Bajo, East Nusa Tenggara in Indonesia has carried on in earnest even as the Covid-19 pandemic disrupts travel and tourism businesses, to ensure the destination is ready for both the ASEAN Summit and the G-20 Summit come 2023.
Shana Fatina, president director of the Labuan Bajo Flores Tourism Authority Agency (BOP), said that infrastructural works include new roads and airport runway extensions.
Service excellence is also on the agenda, and the government is working with regional peers and experts, such as Changi Aiports International, Changi Airports Mena, Cinta Airport Flores and Cardig Aero Services, to manage Komodo Airport and to make it an international airport by February 2021.
Meanwhile, development of the Labuan Bajo marina area has been accelerated, allowing it to accommodate up to 125 yachts or cruise ships by end-2020.
On the accommodation side, Indonesia Tourism Development Corporation (ITDC) has been appointed to oversee Tana Mori’s development into a high-end resort destination similar to Bali’s Nusa Dua.
Edwin Darmasetiawan, ITDC’s director of development, said the Tana Mori masterplan was now complete and works could begin. The plan includes the construction of two five-star hotels and one four-star hotel to accommodate delegates of the two Summits.
Funding has been proposed through state equity participation, in addition to private investment.
“I am very optimistic that we can finish latest by 2022,” remarked Edwin.
“The event will be in 2023 but our obligation is to prepare the venue with all supporting aspects, both property and infrastructure by the end of 2022,” he added.
Susilowani Daud, president director of Pacto Convex, opined that the project underlined the government’s commitment to developing destinations in the country for business events, which would send a positive signal to investors.
She added that while private investors might remain conservative now due to economic uncertainty, interest could soar once business recovery begins.
Susilowani hopes the government would also invest in tourism and business events education for the local workforce, to establish a strong human resource foundation that would support the future developments in Labuan Bajo.