Business tourism gets due recognition
2010 ended on a positive note for Malaysia’s business tourism sector following the government’s endorsement of the sector as part of an Economic Transformation Programme (ETP) that aims to transform the nation into a high income economy by 2020 with the allocation of a RM25 million Subvention Fund.
“Subvention is a positive step towards the advancement of Malaysia’s business tourism industry given its large multiplier effect and that the segment targets higher-yield, quality, super tourists. This milestone bodes well for the industry as not only will it make Malaysia more competitive globally but also, facilitate the delivery of more international and regional association meetings to the country,” says Datuk Peter Brokenshire, General Manager of the Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre (the Centre).
In line with the ETP, the government has also launched the ‘Greater Kuala Lumpur Development and Economic Transformation Programme’ that includes the immediate planned development of two kilometers of overhead pedestrian walkways to link major places of interests and hotels around Kuala Lumpur city.
The proposed walkways, slated for completion by February 2011 and totaling 42 kilometers in the long-term, will provide convenience and flexibility for visitors to get to and from hotels or shopping destinations and other strategic locations. With the Centre’s central location (within the city), this, combined with the upcoming 450-room Grand Hyatt Hotel and Impiana KLCC Hotel Phase 2 expansion project which includes adding 180 rooms to the existing 322 units and an overhead bridge linking the property (Impiana Hotel) directly to the Centre; also currently under construction, will definitely enhance the Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre’s growing reputation as the premier convention centre in Malaysia.
From January to December 2010, the Centre hosted some 34 conventions and 62 exhibitions including such notables as the 6th World Islamic Economic Forum, World Engineering Science and Technology Conference, World Halal Forum and World Congress of Accountants (WCOA) 2010 with the latter recording the highest number of participants in the WCOA’s history.
Since opening its doors in June 2005, the Centre has been the venue of choice to over 3,857 events with 10.4 million delegates and visitors. This achievement has contributed approximately RM3 billion in economic impact to Kuala Lumpur and Malaysia.
And the Centre continues to grow from strength to strength in other areas. 2010 saw the Centre adding to its list of quality certifications when it became the first convention centre in Malaysia to be awarded ISO 14001:2004 and the first in Asia; and one of only 12 APIC centres worldwide, to receive the AIPC Quality Standards certification.
Looking ahead the Centre is hopeful of expanding its current footprint to cater for larger events as well as looking at new markets such as the USA. The approval of the Subvention Fund demonstrates the Malaysian government’s endorsement and acknowledgement of business tourism as an important contributor to the country’s tourism receipts. This should pave the way for increased industry-government collaboration in further developing this growing sector and in turn, motivate industry players, such as the Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre, to actively pursue opportunities to identify and bid for more international and regional events.
For the industry itself, technology will play a key role as the driver for change to how global meetings will be organised and managed such as, combining real-time with virtual elements to cater to on and off-site delegates. And as competition gets more intense, there will be a need to continue innovating and developing products that offer new insights and experiences to provide event planners with more options when considering a destination for their events.
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