MICE Malaysia and Beyond: March 2022

By Anthony Tan

VIRGIN Communications

The dates for inaugural Pangkor International Marine Tourism Conference 2022 (PIMTC ‘22) will be held now from the 9-12 May at Marina Island Pangkor & Resort instead of 26-29 March to take advantage of Malaysia’s reopening of its international borders and the easing of travel protocols recently announced by the authorities. This will benefit especially the foreign delegates and sail participants in terms of costs.

Dato’ Nolee Ashilin

Proclaiming PIMTC ’22 as the first international event for the silver state, Perak Committee Chairman for Housing, Local Government And Tourism Dato’ Nolee Ashilin Dato’ Mohammed Radzi said it is organised by Perak Tourism Association (PTA) and endorsed by the state government via Tourism Perak Management Berhad.

Key associates involved in this event to brand Pangkor as an international marine tourism destination are Cruise Marine Tourism Association (CMTA), Sail Malaysia, Pangkor Marina Malaysia and Marina Island Pangkor Resort & Hotel.

The one-day conference features six speakers. They are:

1. Datuk Seri Mirza Mohammad Taiyab Beg, Association of Ex-Staff of Tourism Malaysia (AESTOM) Chairman as keynote speaker.

2. Dato’ Baharin Dato’ Abdul Hamid, Director General Jabatan Laut Malaysia

3. Sazli Kamal Basha, SM Yachting Sdn Bhd Managing Director and Sail Malaysia Founder

4. James Khoo Haw Min, Pangkor Marina Malaysia Operation Director

5. Azizah Hanim Kamarudin, Super Yacht Captain based in Italy

6. Brian Werner, One15 Marina Group General Manager

File picture: sail yachts mustering before flag-off

A yacht rally (Sail Malayia) will also be organised to attract local and foreign participants from Australia, Belgium, Germany, the United Kingdom and the United States.

The four-day programme will include a welcome dinner, familiarisation tour for the yacht rally participants and a flag-off ceremony of Sail Malaysia's passage to the East Yacht Rally.

PTA president and PIMTC ’22 chairman
Datuk Mohd Odzman

PTA president and PIMTC '22 chairman Datuk Mohd Odzman Abd Kadir says, “The conference is by invitation only. Besides selected boat owners, also invited are government officials, academicians, students and industry players.

“And of course, tourism related NGOs representing hoteliers, homestays, tourist guides, heritage masters and writers.”

At the unveiling of the PIMTC ’22 logo on 14 March at MH Hotel in Ipoh and the signing of the certificate of collaboration with its key associates, Pantai Hospital Ipoh was also acknowledged for sponsoring 250 Covid-19 self-test kits.