With restrictions under the conditional movement control order (CMCO) slowly being lifted and the country gearing up to reopen the economy, the Malaysia Convention & Exhibition Bureau (MyCEB) is convinced its “Meet in Malaysia Campaign” will serve as a much-needed spark for the tourism industry.

Running until December 2021, the “Meet in Malaysia Campaign” is aimed at supporting the business events industry and stakeholders affected by the Covid-19 pandemic and is a key pillar of the tourism, arts, and culture ministry’s RM200 million Tourism Rehabilitation Plan for 2021.

“As the economy starts to recover, conventions and exhibitions will once again be focal points for industry players to trade, network and exchange ideas,” MyCEB CEO Abdul Khani Daud told FMT.

“The tourism sector has been among the hardest hit by the pandemic, and we are confident the ‘Meet in Malaysia Campaign’ will help revitalise the sector and create strong multiplier effects for the industry’s various stakeholders.”

The “Meet in Malaysia Campaign” comprises two programmes: Let’s Meet Tomorrow and Let’s Meet Locally.

Aimed at encouraging international planners to host events in Malaysia once travel restrictions are eased, the “Let’s Meet Tomorrow” initiative offers support for homegrown regional or international conventions as well as domestic corporate meetings.

It offers partial sponsorship of up to RM152,500 for marketing purposes for organisers hosting trade exhibitions, with partial sponsorship for hall rentals, onsite support, and speakers also available.

The “Let’s Meet Locally”‘ programme caters to the local market and provides support for events with at least 30 delegates. MyCEB’s support comes in the form of subsidies or services such as city tours and dinners at local restaurants, with a support value of up to RM60,000 provided to local trade exhibitions.

MyCEB has helped the country secure more than 1,255 events from 2010 to 2019, delivering an estimated impact of around RM10.5 billion.

MyCEB secured and supported 475 business events and welcomed more than 287,000 delegates last year alone, which translated into RM4.3 billion in estimated economic impact.