The Tourism Reconnect Conference 2022, co-organised by PATA Malaysia Chapter (PMC) and Penang Convention & Exhibition Bureau (PCEB) successfully concluded yesterday. The event was graced and officiated by Penang State Exco for Tourism & Creative Economy, YB Yeoh Soon Hin. 

The conference took place on 24th March at Royale Chulan Penang and was streamed live via the official virtual conference platform.

The hybrid conference drew 96 delegates that attended the event at Penang and 110 virtual attendees from 10 different countries. The conference discussed current trending topics that were highly beneficial for the travel and tourism industry.

On the first day, an all-day panel discussion about current tourism trends and changes was held in a hybrid session.

 The first session was titled "Energizing Emotional Wellbeing and Mental Resilience in the Hospitality Industry," The second session featured "New Age of Destination Marketing-Going Digital." This was followed by the third session titled 'Business Recovery & Mastering Hybrid Events.

While session four encompasses the topic of 'Challenges & Opportunities in Human Capital Recovery. And the final session covered' Revitalizing Tourism: The Emergence of Neuromarketing'.

The event stood as an excellent platform for the travel and tourism players to convene, reconnect and share an amazing networking opportunity.

The Tourism Reconnect was primarily intended to provide a platform for Malaysian travel trade participants from the PMC membership and other relevant industry partners to meet and network with local tourism players from the Northern Region, including participants from PATA global chapters, with an ultimate goal of exploring the enhanced business opportunities.

On 25th March the PATA delegates went on an experiential trishaw adventure on seeing some of Penang's prominent sites such as Armenian Street, Khoo Kongsi, Street of Harmony and Aceh Street.  The PMC members were taken on an exclusive incentive experience which marks the reactivation of the tourism industry in Penang. 

According to Ashwin Gunasekeran, Chief Executive Officer of PCEB, this innovative collaboration will bring new travel ideas in developing strategic collaborations and partnerships with industry partners which will accelerate our visions and goals to make our destination a preferred travel hub.

Yeoh Soon Hin, Penang State Exco for Tourism and Creative Economy, stated that all supporting partners from the tourism fraternity equally play a significant role in activating the travel sectors again in order to boost demand for the destination through new market reach, creative marketing and packaging.

Datuk Musa Hj. Yusof, Chairman, PATA Malaysia Chapter, said that in terms of non-financial assistance, MOTAC has relaxed the license conditions for travel agencies, compound-related relaxation, and fee exemption to travel agencies and tour guides.
 
“For this year, the government has allocated RM230 million to MOTAC under budget 2022, allowing the ministry and its agencies to continue reinvigorating the tourism industry as we move forward to the endemic phase,” he added.

The event was supported by The Penang State Government, Penang state Exo Office for Tourism and Creative Economy (PETACE), Tourism Malaysia and the Pacific Asia Travel Association (PATA) Global in line with Penang 2030 and the event is principally controlled to produce actual expertise for the c-suite levels and top management.