The inaugural edition of WTM Connect Asia in
Penang next month aims to connect South-east Asian sellers to international
buyers, and plugs the gap for Malaysia in having a branded travel trade show at
last.
An offshoot of World Travel Market, the
three-day event will be held from May 18. The first will showcase more than 50
exhibitors and 75 hosted buyers, according to organiser Reed Travel
Exhibitions. The opening will be held at E&O Hotel Penang while business
meetings will be at Straits Quay Convention Centre in Penang.
Zulkefli Sharif, CEO of Malaysia Convention
& Exhibition Bureau (MyCEB), said: “This show is important for Malaysia as
we don’t have a travel trade show of international standard. It also provides
an opportunity for South-east Asian sellers to meet with international buyers
without having to travel far.”
MyCEB is targeting an economic impact of
around RM15 million (US$3.8 million) from the three-day event and a total international
spend of RM7.7 million.
Buyer breakdown is as follows: 40 per cent
from Asia-Pacific, 20 per cent from Europe, 10 per cent from Middle East and
Africa, and the rest from North America and Latin America. The show will also
host a number of key outbound Chinese leisure travel buyers, providing more
business opportunities for exhibitors targeting the Chinese market.
Show highlights will include pre-scheduled
business meetings onsite, numerous networking opportunities, as well as
speeches by Azran Osman Rani, former CEO of AirAsia X, and Jamling Tenzing
Norgay, Sherpa Everest Climber, mountain guide, motivational speaker and author
of Touching My Father’s Soul.
This
show is supported by Ministry of Tourism and Culture, MyCEB and Penang’s state
tourism.
-TTG Asia.
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