The Sabah Tourism Board has introduced an incentive support programme toattract more business events to the state, and continues to support the development of human capital for the business events industry through several initiatives.
Organisers who bring in a minimum of 30 national or international delegates per business event are eligible for the incentive support which is known as Sabah BE Here For You. The support is on a reimbursement basis and the maximum support per event is RM100,000 (US$21,274).
In 2022, a total of 53 events were supported, which included the 2nd Asia Parks Congress in May; 24th Family Medicine Scientific Conference in September; and the 6th World Tourism Conference in November.
Meanwhile, capability building and knowledge upgrading initiatves included a four-day Congress Certification Program 1.0 in December 2021, as well as subsiding the cost of The CCP 2.0 Advance Masterclass. Topics covered topics such as budget preparation, digital marketing application, event technology, nd digital event strategies.
Such activities also contribute to the nation’s economic recovery and growth under the 12th Malaysia Plan and the Shared Prosperity Vision 2030.
The Sabah International Convention Centre (SICC), a waterfront purpose-built conference, exhibition and entertainment facility in Kota Kinabalu, is also doing its part by hosting educational programmes for local associations to understand more about the business events industry, and equip them with the knowledge and skills needed to bid for regional and international meetings and conferences.
Elsewhere in the business events ecosystem, Borneo Trails Tours & Travel has created new incentive packages for the European market, which were promoted at World Travel Market in London last November.
The 10 to12 day nature and culture packages combined state capital Kota Kinabalu with Sandakan, a hotspot for wildlife sighting. The company is also working with local organisations on CSR programmes in remote areas, as European clients tend to incorporate a CSR component into their itineraries.
