KUALA LUMPUR Event planners heading to Malaysia will benefit from a spike in infrastructure investment and federal assistance for business events.
The biggest development news is the long-awaited expansion of KLCC Convention Centre (the Centre), which will add 10,000 sqm of exhibition space. Work is expected to begin in the last quarter of this year and the new facility will open in 2013.
This will be complemented by two kilometres of air-conditioned walkways connecting the Centre to surrounding hotels. KLCC Convention Centre general manager Peter Brokenshire, said: “The proposed walkways, totalling 42 km for the long-term plan, will provide convenience and flexibility for visitors to get to and from hotels, shopping destinations and other tourism attractions.”
A 142-metre-long stretch connecting the Centre to Hotel Impiana is already open. The initiative is part of the Greater Kuala Lumpur Development Plan, which also includes plans for a metro system.
Services for organisers have also received a boost with the federal government’s Economic Transformation Programme identifying business events as an Entry Point Project. Regular meetings are occurring between various ministries and private-sector stakeholders.
The Malaysia Convention and Exhibition Bureau (MyCEB) has been allocated US$8 million in subvention funding for 2011 and 2012. This will be increased to US$18 million in 2020.