Kuala Lumpur Makes Top 5

-   Malaysia Retains Its Position as the Top 10 Meetings Destination in Asia Pacific

	2010	2011	Change
MALAYSIA
World Ranking	28	29	-1
Asia Pacific Ranking	7	7	No change
No. International Association Meetings	119	126	+7
KUALA LUMPUR
World Ranking	23	21	+2
Asia Pacific Ranking	8	5	+3
No. International Association Meetings	79	78	-1

Source: International Congress and Convention Association (ICCA) Rankings 2011

Kuala Lumpur, 24 May 2012 – Kuala Lumpur has jumped two places in world convention city rankings and three places in Asia Pacific ranking based on the number of international association meetings held in 2011, the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Malaysia Convention & Exhibition Bureau (MyCEB), Zulkefli Hj. Sharif, said today.

Kuala Lumpur staged 78 international association meetings, gaining two places on the ladder to finish 21st in the world and securing the top five position in Asia Pacific. Malaysia is ranked 29^th overall – down one spot from the 28^th world position while retaining its position as one of the top 10 meeting destination in Asia Pacific.

Despite the slight decline in ranking, the number of international association meetings hosted in Malaysia grew from 119 to 126 in 2011. This increase is testament to the interest and confidence from global associations on Malaysia as a premiere meetings destination. A good example is the success in hosting the 2011 Institute of Internal Auditors International Conference in Kuala Lumpur. Held for the first time in Asia and touted as the world’s largest gathering of internal auditors, the globally-prestigious 2011 IIA International Conference has attracted more than 2,200 internal auditors and governance practitioners from 93 countries worldwide. This is the largest number of participants that has ever been recorded outside the USA.

“Malaysia’s promising increase in number of meetings is the sounding result of growing strength, collaboration and commitment between the Ministry of Tourism, MyCEB and the various industry partners to bid for, secure and deliver successful international meetings for the country. We are also very proud to announce that other than Kuala Lumpur, other Malaysian cities like Penang, Kota Kinabalu and Melaka have also been ranked this year reflecting a growth in Malaysia’s association meetings business amidst a competitive and challenging market”, Zulkefli said.

Penang and Melaka, both declared by UNESCO as world heritage site is ranked 32 and 68 in Asia Pacific city rankings respectively while Kota Kinabalu’s natural wonders allure secured the capital city of Sabah, Malaysia number 38 in the listings.

In 2011, MyCEB supported 29 convention bids and 20 corporate incentive groups representing 35,750 delegates and an economic value of RM382 million (USD123 million). It also assisted 130 meetings and conventions, 6 exhibitions and 62 corporate incentive groups, which contributed an estimated economic impact of RM1 billion (USD344 million) to Malaysia.

The data on international meetings held in 2011 was released by the International Congress & Convention Association (ICCA), based in Amsterdam.

-MyCEB.

www.myceb.com.my