The crucial role played by meetings in developing economies was underscored when Business Events Sarawak (BESarawak) revealed it had secured RM3bn (€630m) in conference business.
But the convention bureau wants the meetings it hosts to have a deeper societal impact, too.
Malaysia’s first convention bureau, Business Events Sarawak (BESarawak), opened in 2006 to help the region enter the international meetings, incentives, conventions, and exhibitions market.
Since then, BESarawak has secured 1,006 business events amounting to RM3bn in ‘total economic impact’ - RM182m in tax revenue, and 241,238 employment opportunities.
While the economic impact of meetings is a huge boost to regional economies, Sarawak said its focus was on maximising the ‘legacy impact’ of the meetings it hosts henceforth.
“Legacy impacts of business events are one of the key strategies to help achieve the Post Covid Development Strategy (PCDS) 2030 goals under the tourism sector,” said Sarawak’s caretaker of Tourism, Arts and Culture Ministry, The Honourable Dato Sri Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah. “We strive to secure at least 50 per cent of the total bid wins from now until 2030 to be legacy-driven and beneficial to our sectors, economies, communities, environment, and policy transformations.”
“We are very proud to see how far Sarawak’s business events sector has come, especially as it is gaining traction as a contributing sector in the national and global arena.” said Amelia Roziman, CEO of BESarawak during the 'crystal anniversary’ gala celebration. “In fifteen glorious years, Sarawak has successfully grown a “tribe” of industry players and stakeholders who are fully equipped to harness the community-changing benefits of business events.”
Sarawak has 93 business events in the pipeline, worth an estimated RM310m in total economic impact, RM18.6m in tax revenue, and more than 24,500 new employment opportunities.
Written By
James Lancaster
AMI editor James
Lancaster is a familiar face in the meetings industry and international
association community. Since joining AMI in 2010, he has gained a reputation
for asking difficult questions and getting lost in convention centres. Proofer, podcaster, and panellist - in his spare time, James likes to walk,
read, listen to music, and drink beer.
