More opting for ‘bleisure’ which will benefit Sabah
Published on: Monday, March 04, 2024
By: David Thien
A panel of speakers sharing their views at the event.
Kota Kinabalu: The Sabah International Convention Centre (SICC) can benefit from the State’s strong tourism products attraction to market it as a business and leisure (bleisure) destination for Meetings, Incentives, Conferences, and Exhibitions (Mice).
This was discussed and concurred at the Business Events Forum (BE in Sabah) “Gathering of the International Business Events Communities” event held at SICC, recently.
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It was attended by various speakers, touching on the continued popularity of “blended” trips, combining business and leisure travel, as people increasingly take time out of a work trip to explore or take on a holiday to the end of a conference.
“Combining a business trip with a leisure holiday appears to be becoming more popular according to a World Travel and Tourism Council Report on shifting consumer travel trends.
“This growing post-pandemic trend of combining business with leisure, often dubbed ‘bleisure’ and according to a Euromonitor forecast, it is anticipated to increase by more than double between 2021 and 2027,” said James KL Tan, who said that in 2019, travel and tourism contributed 10.3 per cent of global GDP and supported one in 10 jobs.
Since 2021, intent to travel and spend had generally been strong. In 2019, the average round-trip booked on Trip.com lasted just nine days – in 2022, it was almost two weeks as holidays are near the top of discretionary spending priorities of many business people.
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Industry players have recognised the pivotal role of the Mice industry as a driver of growth and innovation, said Chris Khoo.
“Sustainability has maintained its importance as one of the key elements of the travel agenda. Travellers are increasingly looking for ways to reduce their carbon footprint and support sustainable tourism practices.”
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A survey of respondents showed that they have opted for some form of sustainable travel in recent years, and nearly
60 per cent are also either already paying to help offset their carbon emissions or say they are willing to do so at the right price.
Looking to 2024, travel and tourism likely has a bright path ahead. WTTC’s 10-year forecast puts the sector on track to outpace global growth, at a rate of 5.8 per cent annually, while global GDP grows at just 2.7 per cent.
That could translate into 126 million new jobs by 2032 globally. The demand for business and leisure travel or bleisure is increasingly stronger than ever.
This will definitely benefit the SICC and Sabah as a Mice destination of exotic choice, post-Covid-19 related travel restrictions, said many speakers at the event.
The Malaysian Association of Convention & Exhibition Organisers & Suppliers (MACEOS) Sabah Chapter and SICC gathered local and international tourism leaders and decision-makers to speak at the event to foster meaningful engagement among key stakeholders in the business events community, including representatives from local government authorities, international and local associations, business event organisers, as well as industry professionals.
Mice can boost Tourism Total Revenue and enhance the appeal of Sabah’s diverse locales and natural heritage to the world with events at the SICC.
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