2022

Thailand Convention and Exhibition Bureau has launched its bid to host a Specialised Expo 2028 in Phuket,  with the ambassador of Thailand to France, Mr. Sarun Charoensuwan submitting a Letter of Candidature to Mr. Dimitri S. Kerkentzes, secretary general of the expo’s governing body, Bureau International des Expositions in Paris.

Thailand’s bid feature Phuket as the host city. It will be known as EXPO 2028 Phuket to be co-hosted by Thailand’s Ministry of Public Health with the theme: Future of Life: Living in Harmony, Sharing Prosperity.

The event is expected to take place over a period of three months from March 20 to June 17, 2028, at Mai Khao area of Thalang district. It’s projected to attract 4.9 visitors with revenue estimated at 49.23 billion baht a contribution of 39.35 billion baht to Thailand’s GDP and, 9.5 billion baht in tax revenue with 113,439 jobs created.

Expo 2028 Phuket is the first of three mega-events that Thailand will be bidding with two others are: the 2026 and 2029 editions of the International Horticultural Exposition in Udon Thani; and Nakhon Ratchasima.

Three of these mega-events are estimated to generate combined revenue of more than 100.17 billion baht and to create more than 230,000 jobs.

Bids for the events, are the result of collaboration between TCEB, Thailand’s Ministry of Public Health, Ministry of Agriculture and Cooperatives, as well as three MICE cities in the country which include, support from the cities’ chambers of commerce and city chapters of the Federation of Thai Industries.

“When the mega-events are over, the respective expo sites will be adapted for continued and purposeful use. For example, there is great potential for the expo site in Udon Thani to be redeveloped into a commerce and investment centre serving the Greater Mekong Sub-region or a green space for the city,” stated the president of TCEB, Mr. Chiruit Isarangkun Na Ayuthaya

The waterfront purpose-built facility has announced three new personnel: Ms. Isabelle Chai is director of sales, events and marketing; Mr. Safian Bin Haji Omar, director of safety and security; and Ms. Clara Lim as the corporate communications manager.

Ms. Chai comes with 30 years of experience in international luxury hospitality and is tasked to strategise the venue’s branding and communication, manage sales activities of the facility and identify new market and growth opportunities for the centre.

While the new director of safety and secutiry was formerly with the Malaysian army who has also 37 years of security and safely work experience in luxury hotels and resorts. Mr Safian will lead the centre’s security programme including security policies, protocols and safety procedure in compliance with safety regulations and safety and health standard operating procedures issued by the government.

Ms. Lim has 26 years experience in hospitality and marketing. She will lead the centre’s communications team in creating marketing and communications campaigns, contents for social media and organising social community and events for the establishment.

Sabah International Convention Centre is located in East Malaysia, is considered to be the largest in Borneo, with a total function space of 153,197square metre and  gross built-up of 60,514 square metre on a six-hectare site

This year’s ATF with some 350 participants from more than 27 countries and regions is hosted by Cambodia held at Sihanoukville for three days beginning from January 18.  ‘A community of peace and shared future’ is the theme adopted reflecting ASEAN’s common values in the spirit of unity in diversity.

The event started off on January 16 with the official ASEAN national tourism organisation meeting and, tourism ministers and association meetings where leaders discussed the implementation of tourism recovery programmes.

At the heart of the ATF is, TRAVEX an annual ASEAN leisure travel trade fair showcasing the latest Southeast Asia travel experiences organised by a joint collaboration between MP Singapore and the Ministry of Tourism of the Kingdom of Cambodia.

TRAVEX features hoteliers, tour operators and travel agencies, national tourism boards, airline professionals, restaurateurs, attraction and theme park owners.

Everyone attending the event is required to take an antigen rapid test prior to entry, wear their masks at all times, and observe safe distancing. Meanwhile all frequent venue touch points and exhibition halls are regularly sanitised and disinfected.

As a country, by January 27 Cambodia would have vaccinated 89.46 percent of its total population of 16 million a safety requisite for herd immunity.

The ATF 2022 will close on January 20 with a ceremony of handing over the ATF flag to next year’s host, Indonesia.

Sarawak, secured a total of 109 business events with an estimation of RM365 million in total economic impact with tax revenue of RM21.4 million and, approximately 28, 289 new job opportunities from 2020 to 2021.

In Business Events Sarawak’s latest performance report, the destination has secured at least 43,471 delegates over a total of 160,142 delegate days worth RM 193.7 million in direct delegate expenditure. In terms of physical-to-virtual conversions, 34 events worth RM105.5 million in total economic impact have been converted, forfeiting the arrival of over 12,000 delegates, RM57.3 million in direct delegate expenditure and 8,370 new job openings.

Despite several events being converted to virtual, these figures are a statement of achievement for Sarawak as the destination continues to recover from the pandemic. Various initiatives were implemented to support recovery efforts that keep the destination active in the national and international scene: such as the provision of education for the local industry; a proactive approach to collaborating with stakeholders of varying levels; and Sarawak’s attractive incentivised packages for local, national, and international business events planners.

Sarawak made all the right moves to attract business events planners during the most fragile of times. In March 2021, BESarawak launched its incentivised packages to support the sector’s recovery efforts and provide valuable financial and in-kind support to planners.

“The incentives and comprehensive support offered are integral to the sector’s rehabilitation,” asserted BESarawak’s chief executive officer,  Ms.Amelia Roziman.

She further  added: “Most importantly, these offers are appealing to planners and catering to today’s event needs. Beyond incentives, our team continues to provide pre and post event support to ensure the best possible client experience that reflects Sarawak’s hospitality.”

Sarawak recently entered phase four of Malaysia’s national recovery plan, forecasting a positive restart for business events and a better outlook for the sector as a whole.

For 2022, BESarawak will continue to place destination development high on its priority through promoting legacy impact and mobilising Sarawak’s covid-19 business events mitigation and recovery plans.