Thumbs up to BESarawak for their newly launched “Tribe Homegrown Incentivised Packages”

Congrats to Business Events Sarawak (BESarawak) for introducing the brand-new “Tribe Homegrown Incentivised Packages” and the launching a new normal video for Sarawak-based business event planners and partners. I also thank them for inviting me to grace the launching ceremony which was held at Borneo Convention Centre Kuching (BCCK) yesterday.

In my speech, I have reminded the industry of our last year’s achievements which include 95 secured business events worth RM 208.8 million in total economic impact. These events - which are scheduled to take place from Q4 onwards - is estimated to attract at least RM 112.9 million in direct delegate expenditure, RM12.5 million in tax revenue which is expected to create approximately 16, 346 job placements in Sarawak when the events are held.

In this respect, the unity and collaboration among relevant parties were key factors in securing these figures, and also for this year’s targets. I have also expressed the confidence in the quality of Sarawak’s homegrown conventions as “over the years Sarawak’s convention and exhibition segments, we have seen local business events grow into internationally recognised events that attract people and attention worldwide. 

According to BESarawak’s Acting Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Amelia Roziman who also spoke during the event, our business event industry is targeting  for total economic impact in 2021 to be set at RM179.2 million; with RM4 million to come from direct delegate expenditure and RM 10.8 million in tax revenues. 

Our local business events industry is also aiming to create 14,224 new job placements from the target of 60 secured business events. Thus, through solid marketing and proactive promotions efforts, together we can positive impacts on Sarawak’s business lead generation efforts.  I do agree with the fact that homegrown events can become the next focus to keep the industry moving, the introduction of incentivised packages for national and international planners can be revived to give better support for hybrid events and fit the current needs of national and international planners.

The newly launched packages were divided into 2 categories namely the “Tribe Homegrown Convention Category)” and “Tribe Homegrown Corporate Meetings & Corporate Incentives Category)”. The Convention Category is a collaboration between the Ministry of Tourism, Arts & Culture Sarawak and BESarawak to help develop the local tourism, arts and culture scene via homegrown conventions. Meanwhile, Corporate Meetings & Corporate Incentives Category is encouraging corporate organisations and destination management companies, travel agents and incentive houses among other subsectors to organise and host such business events.

The ​Tribe Collaborate Incentivised Package is aimed at Sarawak-based industry partners that will help them with advertising, marketing and promotional efforts locally and abroad. In an effort to help industry partners recover from impacts of COVID-19, BESarawak is urging business events partners to boost existing marketing activities and leverage on digital marketing using the grant.