KUCHING: Sarawak’s business events industry wrapped up 2022 on a high note after securing 100 business events for 2023, exceeding the initial target of 90 at an achievement rate of 111 per cent.
In a press release, Business Events Sarawak (BESarawak) said the 100 business events were worth an estimated RM359 million in total economic impact whereby direct delegate expenditure will account for approximately RM195 million and RM21.5 million in tax revenues.
“These events are expected to open approximately 28,496 new employment opportunities for the local communities in the destination.
“As for the number of business events hosted last year, 93 homegrown, national and international business events were succesfully hosted and they were worth a total economic impact of RM216.3 million,” it said.
Direct delegate expenditure accounted for RM117.6 million of income; RM13 million in tax revenue and opened at least 17,169 jobs.
Since Sarawak’s borders reopened in April 2022, there had a surge of national and international interest to host corporate meetings, corporate incentives, conventions, exhibitions and other business events in the destination.
The motivation behind these outcomes were the incentivised packages offering additional funding and in-kind assistance; other products and services including hybrid event support to facilitate post-pandemic planning, and supporting homegrown events to boost local industry growth-all under the Tribe Legacy Sarawak campaign.
Deputy Minister of Creative Industry and Performing Arts Datuk Snowdan Lawan said the Tribe Legacy Sarawak campaign continued to have an enormous positive impact on planners be it homegrown, national or international and the Ministry of Tourism, Creative Industry and Performing Arts was very proud of this performance.
“They are expressing a strong interest to develop business events that can deliver a return on objectives and return on investment.
“Considering that our mission is to drive social and economic progress through business events, Sarawak is fast becoming a destination of choice because of our value proposition and the type of support we provide planners to organise legacy driven events.
“We will strengthen our support to Sarawak’s business events agency, Business Events Sarawak and their industry partners and planners in 2023,” he said.
The year 2022 also saw Sarawak winning two international marketing awards, namely, the Hollywood Gold Award (Silver Award) and Milan Gold Award (Silver Award).
Last year, BESarawak also launched the world’s first International Journal of Business Events and Legacies.’
It congratulated 107 industry partners on obtaining internationally accredited business events certifications.
Meanwhile, BESarawak chief executive officer Amelia Roziman said 2023 was the year it would concentrate further on legacy impact and sustainability as the driving forces behind Sarawak’s business events.
“BESarawak shall continue collaborating with the public and private sectors to develop our destination’s business event capabilities and ensure that planners have full confidence in us.
“More subsidies for industry training will be made available and our marketing efforts will be ramped up by exhibiting for the first time at IMEX Frankfurt 2023 under our own Sarawak Pavilion – a historical move from Sarawak,” said Amelia.
