West Asia Crisis Opens Door For M’sia To Attract More International Mice Events - Tiong

KUALA LUMPUR, Nov 5 (Bernama) -- Geopolitical uncertainties in West Asia have presented Malaysia with an opportunity to strengthen its position as an international events destination, with the country successfully attracting 12 Meetings, Incentives, Conferences and Exhibitions (MICE) events affected by the crisis to relocate here.

Tourism, Arts and Culture Minister Datuk Seri Tiong King Sing said the relocation of the events, spearheaded by the Malaysia Convention and Exhibition Bureau (MyCEB), an agency under the Tourism, Arts and Culture Ministry (MOTAC), was expected to generate a total economic impact of RM143.14 million in 2026 and 2027.

Four such events had been relocated to Malaysia between April and December 2026, with an estimated economic return of RM58.27 million, he said. 

“Overall, as of October 2026, a total of 464 MICE events had been successfully held, involving more than 800 delegations and generating an estimated economic impact of RM5.11 billion,” he said during the Minister's Question Time in the Dewan Rakyat today.

Tiong was responding to a question from Howard Lee Chuan How (PH-Ipoh Timur) on the strategies and proactive measures being undertaken by MOTAC to strengthen Malaysia's position as a leading international MICE destination, as well as the industry's targeted economic impact in supporting the Visit Malaysia 2026-2027 campaign.

For 2027, he said 44 MICE events had been identified for hosting in Malaysia, with an estimated 69,500 delegates and a targeted economic impact of RM1.03 billion.

“Of these, eight MICE events relocated to Malaysia following the global crisis in West Asia are expected to generate an economic impact of RM84.87 million,” he said.

Tiong said efforts to attract international event organisers were supported by the implementation of Be Fuelled-Up under MyCEB, a strategic collaboration with the private sector to attract overseas-based conventions, corporate meetings and exhibitions to Malaysia.

MOTAC was also actively promoting post-conference tour packages to encourage delegates to extend their stays and spend more in the country, generating direct economic benefits for local businesses, including transport operators, hotels, service providers and restaurant owners.

Meanwhile, during the question-and-answer session, Tiong said Malaysia recorded 32.3 million international visitor arrivals from January to September this year, a 2.4 per cent increase from 31.5 million in the same period last year.

He said the achievement reflected continued positive growth in international visitor arrivals despite geopolitical challenges in West Asia, which continued to affect international flight routes.

Tiong said that international visitor arrival figures recorded by the Immigration Department of Malaysia were based on the country's entry points and not the states visited.

-- BERNAMA