The Penang International Travel Exchange (PITE), a programme owned by Penang Convention & Exhibition Bureau (PCEB) will adopt a virtual format this year.
Set to take place from 14 – 16 October, B2B sessions will be scheduled across three timezones to cater for buyers in Asia Pacific, Europe and the Americas.
Organised by Penang-based PCO, ACE Conferences & Exhibitions, PITE will see virtual networking and education sessions take place in a simulated exhibition centre.
“Due to the Covid-19 pandemic and international travel bans, we are moving PITE 2020 completely to a digital platform, and will be the first digital travel show held in Penang connecting local sellers with buyers from around the world," PCEB CEO, Ashwin Gunasekeran, said.
PITE was launched in 2018, while the second edition in 2019 saw 50 local exhibitors and 75 buyers from 11 countries — 65 per cent of which had never visited Penang.
Gunasekeran added: "The work done in the past two years through PITE must go on this year... now the objective is to rejuvenate tourism for Penang."
The state's executive councillor for tourism, arts, culture & heritage, Yeoh Soon Hin, added: “With the pandemic still ranging in other parts of the world, I applaud PCEB for taking the call of 'Responsible Tourism Penang' to heart. Through PITE 2020, we will be able to showcase not only Penang and our tourism and business events products virtually, but also demonstrate the infrastructure and facilities Penang has to put on a world-class virtual trade show.”
The PITE Digital Show 2020 is fully subsidised by the Penang State Government and is now open for registrations.