SARAWAK is hosting 122 business events until the end of this year.
Tourism, Creative Industry and Performing Arts Minister Datuk Seri Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah said this would generate RM373.4 million in total economic impact.
“Direct delegate expenditure will inject RM203 million into the economy and RM22.4 million will translate into tax.
“We have currently concluded 80 per cent of the scheduled events.
“Some major events hosted this year were:
* Asia Pacific Green Hydrogen and Exhibition (APGH) 2024 — 3,000 delegates;
* 10th World Congress of Herpetology — 1,495 delegates; and
* Borneo International Water and Wastewater Exhibition and Conference 2024 — 600 delegates and 60 exhibitors.
“At the moment, under Business Event Sarawak (BESarawak), we have secured 97 per cent of the targeted 100 business events scheduled to take place through 2028,” he said in his ministerial winding-up speech today.
Abdul Karim said the events are projected to generate a Total Economic Impact (TEI) of RM281.1 million.
“Direct delegate spending is expected to contribute approximately RM152.7 million to the economy, with an additional RM16.8 million in tax revenue.
“We succeeded in winning a few major events such as:
* Asian Congress on Occupational Health 2026 with approximately 2,000 delegates;
* Eighth Asia Pacific Conference on Public Health (APCPH 2024) — 1,000 delegates; and
* Hari Wartawan Nasional (HAWANA) National Media Conference 2024 — 729 delegates.
“As for the legaices of business events, 63 out of 97 secured events have a legacy plan and vision. This is above our 50 percent target,” he added.
Abdul Karim said 73 out of 122 hosted events are developing their legacy from now until the next three years.
“These events align their long-term plans with Post Covid-19 Development Strategy (PCDS 2030) blueprints and the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDG).
“This year, we invested in more strategic marketing and capacity-building activities to position Sarawak as the legacy capital of business events in Malaysia and Borneo,” he added.
Additionally, Abdul Karim revealed that his ministry is currently undertaking a study to improve the economic and legacy impact measurement.
“The study will provide new insights and formulas into the industry’s economic and non-economic contributions.
“We shall launch the world’s first Artificial Intelligence (AI)-powered legacy measurement dashboard in 2025,” he added.
