Penang to Launch CVB by End of Year

June 9, 2014

The Malaysian state of Penang is planning to set-up its state convention bureau by the end of 2014. The announcement was first made at the Penang International MICE Conference in January 2013, and is currently still dependent on the success of hiring of a consultant to start work in August on formulating its structure and funding.

The bureau will be named Penang International Convention & Exhibition Bureau (PICEB), and the hiring of the consultant requires the approval of the chief minister and the board of directors of Penang Global Tourism. The consultant will be tasked with drawing-up a structure and a sustainable funding model for PICEB to fund its team, carry-out marketing and promotional activities and to support the bidding for business events to Penang.

According to TTG Asia, the Penang state government will not be providing financial assistance to the bureau, but has pledged to provide support through other means. The delay in setting-up the bureau was reportedly the result of a disagreement between MICE industry players and the government on establishing a sustainable funding model for PICEB.

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