MyCEB expects to hit RM1 bln economic contribution mark by year-end

KUALA LUMPUR: The Malaysia Convention & Exhibition Bureau (MyCEB) expects to breach the RM1 billion economic contribution mark by end-2015, said Chief Executive Officer Datuk Zulkefli Sharif.

Last year, the one-stop centre for business tourism activities secured 44 associations, 104 corporate incentive groups and four exhibition events representing 100,754 delegates with an economic value of RM970 million, he said.

Speaking to reporters at the inaugural AEC+ Expo 2015 here yesterday, he said from January to July this year MyCEB secured 104 events representing 249,128 delegates, of whom 68,038 were international delegates.

“This works out to an average of 654 international delegates per event and at the same time, the visitor expenditure was valued at RM536.8 million, which contributed an economic impact of RM885.8 million,” he said.

Zulkefli said the meetings, incentives, conferences and exhibitions (MICE) industry has been a great contributor to the economy of most countries.

“With the growing affluence of most emerging economies, the flow of tourists to most ASEAN countries has been on the rise for the past five years.

“This upward trend is expected to continue in tandem with the growth of the MICE industry, especially in the Asia-Pacific region,” he said.

Zulkefli said for 2015, the Asia Pacific trade fairs industry is forecast to expand 5.2 per cent measured by net sales space to 19.61 million square metres from 18.64 million sq metres posted last year.

The key drivers will remain consistent over the next several years in tandem with the strong performance of the trade fairs market throughout Southeast Asia coupled with the relative resilience of the industry in China, he said.

AEC+ Expo 2015 is jointly organised by the Asian Federation of Exhibition & Convention Association (AFECA) and the Malaysian Association of Convention and Exhibition Organisers and Suppliers (MACEOS).

The three-day event at the Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre is supported by the Tourism and Culture Ministry, MyCEB and International Association of Exhibitions and Events (IAEE).