Incentives for event planners have been key in retaining the Malaysian state’s business, with a renewed focus on corporate meetings. Photo Credit: Business Events Sarawak
Sarawak has reported just three event cancellations for 2020, with 95
events moving ahead as planned going into 2021, according
to the state's convention bureau, Business Events Sarawak (BESarawak).
A success story amid the ongoing pandemic, Sarawak’s business events
sector has, over the January to September 2020 period, clocked RM106
million in total economic impact. This has translated into RM58 million
(US$13.96 million) in direct delegate expenditure, tax revenues of RM6.4
million, while simultaneously opening up 8,480 jobs across various
related sectors as well.
The winning formula? Incentivised packages which “lend extensive
support [and in turn] injects additional funding as well as other
financial incentives to help organisers get back on their feet and
continue their planning processes,” said Sarawak’s Minister of Tourism,
Arts and Culture and Minister of Youth and Sports, Datuk Abdul Karim
Rahman Hamzah.
These incentives fall under two categories: Tribe Acceleration for
supported corporate events and Tribe Elevation for major conventions.
These schemes provide additional financial support for claims including
tax relief, half-day city tours for delegates, as well as engagement of
virtual platforms that have become a common feature in today’s hybrid
meetings space.
The bureau's business development team will assess each event to determine the level of incentive support.
Because safety remains a top concern whether for business or leisure,
delegates will also receive wellness packs fitted with hand sanitiser
and face masks in a reusable pouch that they can bring around their
events. All steps have been taken to comply with local SOP for business
events.
As a result, Sarawak has achieved 68 per cent of 2020’s target, and
also confirmed a total of 31 business events running from 2020 to 2024,
translating to RM106 million. M&C Asia understands that
moving forward, incentivised packages for business events planners will
be the key driver for new and existing clients.
Also within the next five years is BESarawak’s plan to focus on and
increase market share for the meetings and incentives sector by 20 per
cent.