The Penang Convention & Exhibition Bureau (PCEB) rejoiced its success for 2022 at the annual review session held at The George.
The gathering saw a full turnout from representatives from the various hospitality industry in Penang.
Leading the VIP list was Penang Chief Minister YAB Chow Kon Yeow along with State Exco for Tourism and Creative Economy YB Yeoh Soon Hin.
Others present were Tan Sri Richard Koh, director of the Ministry of Tourism, Arts and Culture Jonathan Freddy Bagang, Tourism Malaysia Northern Region Director Shahrul Aman and deputy Siti Hajar, Datin Bharathi from CMI, PCEB chief executive officer Ashwin Gunasekeran, Malaysian Association of Hotels vice president Dato Khoo Boo Lim, Penang Global Tourism CEO Ooi Chok Yan among others.
In his address Chow acknowledged that the Meetings, Incentives, Conferences, and Exhibitions (MICE) industry holds immense potential in contributing significantly to the economic growth of the state and nation.
“Penang has bounced back swiftly. This resilience is a testament to the industry’s agility and perseverance in advancing towards a digital and innovative environment.
“The State Government, together with PCEB, hosted a total of 281 events last year, achieving RM375 million in Estimated Economic Impact (EEI). This is a substantial improvement compared to the domestic EEI of RM14.1 million in 2021,” said Chow.
He also added that this year, the Penang State Government will continue to focus on recovery efforts for sectors affected by the pandemic, in line with our determination to achieve the Penang2030 Vision of “A Family-Focused Green and Smart State that Inspires the Nation.
Meanwhile, Yeoh expressed confidence that 2023 the return of the tourists to Penang, particularly during the holiday season, has given him the motivation to continue to lead the effort and initiatives in elevating Penang’s position as the preferred destination.
“We see a sharp rise in direct international flights and the arrival of passengers. I have initiated a Penang Aviation Strategic Planning that aims to attract more direct flights to our state. By increasing the number of direct flights, we can make our state more accessible and attractive to tourists and business travelers alike,” said Yeoh.
He also highlighted that the Prime Minister of India Narendra Modi that he has instructed the Minister of Aviation to study the possibility of connectivity between Chennai and Penang.
Ashwin in turn added that more big events will be coming to Penang in the likes of the 28th SEMICON Southeast Asia 2023 attracting 13,000 attendees and an estimated economic impact (EEI) of RM81 million, the 52nd Malaysian Orthopaedic Association Annual Scientific Meeting and Annual General Meeting Conference 2023, with 1,500 attendees and an EEI of RM 9 million, World Congress of Marine Biodiversity 2023 drawing 400 attendees with an EEI of RM3 million, the 37th Annual Congress of Malaysian Society of Nephrology (MSN) 2023 with 1300 attendees and an EEI of RM8,1 million to name a few.
“With these initiatives and strategies in place, I am confident that the business events industry in Penang will continue to thrive and deliver meaningful benefits for our State in the years to come,” he said.
