Malaysian Convention and Exhibition Bureau Targets Australian Corporate and Incentive Groups

By Anthony Tan email: micemalaysiabeyond@gmail.com

With Malaysian Convention and Exhibition Bureau (MyCEB) successes in bringing over 9,000 participants from China under its “Malaysia’s Twin Deal Programme” launched in China last September, it is now targeting Australian corporate and incentive groups in Melbourne and Sydney to Malaysia.

The inaugural sales mission Australia by Ho Yoke Ping,

MyCEB’s General Manager of Sales and Marketing, is

offering the first package. Deal 1 offers value added support

for participants.

Among the privileges lined up are complimentary canopy walk at Bukit Nanas Forest Reserve, choice of cultural showcase activities, a ‘Feng Shui’ talk by renowned Malaysian ‘Feng Shui’ master or a Malaysian cultural experience, shopping discount vouchers, welcome cocktails and police escorts.

She added, “Deal 2 offers incentive rewards for Corporate and Incentive Planners and is based on cumulative numbers of participants.

“The Corporate and Incentive Planners will be able to redeem vacation packages to one of the destinations either Kuala Lumpur, Penang, Langkawi, Kota Kinabalu or Kuching inclusive of return air tickets, accommodation at five-star hotels, spa session and other goodies.

“These destinations are the top ‘must visit’ incentive destinations in Malaysia, known for its lush rainforest, fantastic beaches and heritage sites.

“MyCEB would give each participant a special welcome packs containing a personalised - Welcome Letter from MyCEB CEO Zulkefli Sharif, an eco-friendly reusable drinking bottle, Kuala Lumpur map, Malaysian cultural postcards and an exclusive tote bag."

MyCEB CEO Zulkefli Sharif

The Twin Deal programme is applicable to corporate and incentive groups from Australia and confirmed bookings must be made between January and December 2012 with the groups’ arrival from January 2012 to 31 December 2013.

Ho is offering additional incentive for the first 30 bookings.

“MyCEB would like to invite all event planners in Australia to grab this opportunity and to experience what Malaysia has to offer in terms of incentive products and services. The first 30 planners to booked a cumulative group of 500 participants to Malaysia will stand a chance to redeem an iPad 2,” she added

Meeting planners and incentive agents who need more information about the Twin Deal can call MyCEB @ +603 2034 2090 or email sales@myceb.com.my

Indonesia to reinforce MICE campaign, says Tourism and Creative Economy Minister

By Anthony Tan

“The MICE industry is very important. The cities will become famous tourist destinations, attracting more and more tourists,” said the Tourism and Creative Economy Minister Dr Mari Elka Pangestu as reported by Jakarta Post.

The Indonesian archipelago, spread across the South China Sea, offers many opportunities in tourism.

Mari intends to launch a campaign to promote 10 cities as Meeting, Incentives, Convention and Exhibition (MICE) destinations,

They are Bandung in West Java; Batam (Riau Islands); Denpasar (Bali); Jakarta; Medan (North Sumatra); Makassar (South Sulawesi); Manado (North Sulawesi); Mataram (West Nusa Tenggara), Surabaya (East Java) and Jogjakarta.

Other cities under consideration are Palembang in South Sumatra and Surakarta in Central Java.

Mari, who replaced former Culture and Tourism Minister Jero Wacik last October, said her ministry has established a MICE development department and will study how to develop international conventions, the facilities that they should have and how to train human resources.

She said the marketing department would be managed by her Deputy Minister Sapta Nirwandar who will will target conventions and bid for international events.

Sapta, formerly the Director General for Tourism Marketing in the Ministry for Culture and Tourism, was promoted to his current position during the last Indonesian cabinet reshuffle held last October.

The recent ASEAN Tourism Forum and travel exchange exhibition, held in Manado from 8-15 January as to promote it as a MICE destination, saw tourism ministers from the 10 ASEAN member countries, the United Nations’ World Tourism Organisation secretary-general and many tourism industry leaders and players gathered at the Grand Kawanua Convention Centre.

Bali will be playing host for the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) forum in 2013.

Mari said her ministry will be looking into other cities to host APEC-related smaller meetings in Indonesia during that time.

She said MICE tourists who visited Indonesia in 2010 numbered 236,000, representing 3.37% of its seven million arrivals compared to 205,000 MICE tourists in 2009, which accounted for or 3.24% of its total 6.3 million arrivals.

According to the International Congress and Convention Association (ICCA), Indonesia was ranked 39 in 2010 with 64 meetings while Singapore was ranked 25 with 136 meetings and Malaysia 29 with 119 meetings.

ICCA also ranked Jakarta 113 with 16 meetings while Bali was placed 67 with 27 meetings.