KUCHING, 30 Nov: Sustainable and legacy-driven events will be the pulling factor for national and international planners, setting Sarawak apart from other destinations and turning the state into a leading destination for ecotourism and business events.
Minister of Tourism, Creative Industry and Performing Arts Dato Sri Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah said his ministry has pledged that legacy impact and sustainability will be fully supported and will be the ethos of the business events sector.
“Since business events are part of the Post Covid-19 Development Strategy (PCDS) 2030, sustainable and legacy-driven events will be the key to achieving our aspiration of economic prosperity, social inclusion, and environmental sustainability. Furthermore, this will lift Sarawak into a leading destination for ecotourism and business events.
“In this regard, I pledge to drive positive community economic and environmental developments from business events and lead 300 delegates from the TriBE Assembly as Sarawak’s business event ambassadors,” said Karim
Themed “Reimagined Our Future”, business events’ legacy impact and sustainability were the main topics of TriBE Assembly.
He noted that the state government will strengthen its collaboration with business events sector to develop practical, ethical policies and guidelines that will steer the said sector’s future to be more impactful and sustainable in the state.
Meanwhile, the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of BESarawak pointed out that one way to communicate the sector’s impacts and efforts are by using the International Journal of Business Events and Legacies (IJBEL) as a communication platform.
“The journal is the world’s first to merge business events and legacy topics in one title and the first in South East Asia on all business events.
“The first issue provides excellent insights and knowledge into how global business event players are evolving and what impacts have been found until now,” he added.
For the record, Sarawak’s new value proposition is expected to lure and secure 1,245 business events by 2030.
In 2022, the state has surpassed its target of 90 secured events with 94 events (104% achievement) with an estimated total economic impact of RM303 million; RM165 million from direct delegate expenditure, RM9.9 million tax revenue, and 23,755 jobs for Sarawak.
Out of 94, 81 business events have been assessed with a total of 570 impacts on the sector, economy, community, environment, and political governance. These events are eligible to enroll in the BESLegacy Initiative. – TVS
