KOTA KINABALU: International events held at the Sabah International Convention Centre (SICC) could boost tourist arrivals in the state.
The state Tourism, Culture and Environment Ministry has set a target of 3 million tourist arrivals this year through existing tourism packages and Meetings, Incentives, Conferences and Exhibitions (MICE).
Malaysian Association of Convention and Exhibition organisers and suppliers (MACEOS) Sabah chapter chairperson Datuk Dr Rosmawati Lasuki said the association has been working since last year to raise revenue for the state via MICE.
"We have engaged with MACEOS and the Malaysia Convention and Exhibition Bureau (MyCEB). Now, it is much better with the (kickstarting) of the Sabah Convention Bureau (to work together).
"At SICC, we bring in good international speakers (for MICE events). Whenever I go overseas, they do not know what Sabah is. It is time for us to open the jewel (of Sabah).
"We can bring them here to talk about conservation, and they can go to conservation areas to get a feel for them, to do research and study," she said, adding that SICC collaborates with Yayasan Sabah for the visits to conservation areas in Sabah.
Rosmawati, also the SICC chief executive officer, said that to make Sabah a choice MICE venue, the state has the potential to offer niche products such as readily available nature and culture.
When asked about the impact of MICE on the state economy, she said that it was not much on the number of visitors but on quality who have higher purchasing power.
Last year, SICC registered about RM40 million for the domestic market and could reach up to million ringgits in a month for the international market.
The centre, a subsidiary under Yayasan Sabah, could accommodate up to 20,000 visitors at a time.
Meanwhile, Rosmawati announced the upcoming Business events forum at SICC from Feb 29 until March 1.
"The two-day event will feature eight international and eight Malaysian speakers. The aims of the forum are transformative.
"Our goal is to leverage this event to stimulate interest and participation, ultimately positioning Sabah as the preferred business events destination not only in Malaysia but also within the Asia-Pacific Region."
