The East Malaysian state of Sarawak hosted a record-breaking 124 business events across its key cities – Kuching, Sibu, Bintulu, and Miri – in 2024. Photo Credit: Adobe Stock/Marius Karp
Sarawak concluded FY2024 with 111 secured business events, exceeding its target by 111% and generating an economic impact of RM313.6 million (US$69.7 million), including RM170.4 million from 38,248 delegates. The state also hosted 124 events, attracting nearly 46,000 attendees and contributing RM375.2 million to the local economy.
Major wins included the Asian Congress on Occupational Health (ACOH) 2026 and the 15th World Congress on Design and Health (WCDH) 2026, while hosted highlights featured the Asia Pacific Green Hydrogen & Exhibition (APGH) 2024 and the 10th World Congress of Herpetology (WCH 2024).
The state hosted a record-breaking 124 business events across its key cities – Kuching, Sibu, Bintulu, and Miri. These events attracted nearly 46,000 delegates, contributing RM375.2 million to the local economy, including RM204 million from direct spending.
“Business events are helping us progress towards the 2030 goal of economic prosperity, social inclusion, and environmental sustainability,” said The Hon. Dato Sri Abdul Karim Rahmah Hamzah, Minister for Tourism, Creative Industry, and Performing Arts Sarawak.
Looking ahead to 2025
Sarawak is poised for continued growth in 2025 with an enhanced Tribe Legacy Sarawak campaign. The initiative will feature new programmes and state-of-the-art tools to deliver impactful and sustainable business events.
Amelia Roziman, CEO of BESarawak said, “FY2024 has been a great year for optimizing opportunities. Looking at event legacies is an essential perspective, and while more destinations are entering this space, Sarawak is maturing and leading the way.”
Key activities planned for 2025 include the launch of the world’s first legacy impact measurement system, alongside Sarawak’s continued participation in global tradeshows and events to attract new business opportunities.
Sarawak’s Business Events Sarawak Legacy (BESLegacy) Initiative also earned international acclaim, winning the 'Best Sustainable Initiative – Destination' at the M&C Asia Stella Awards 2024.