BESarawak and UNIMAS collaborate on first Impact Studies in Malaysia

Sarawak’s legacy initiatives for business events achieve a major breakthrough as Business Events Sarawak (BESarawak) and Universiti Malaysia Sarawak (UNIMAS) collaborate on the first economic and legacy impact study in Malaysia.

The partnership between BESarawak and UNIMAS will see two key projects implemented:

1. Economic Impact Study: Led by Professor Dr. Rossazana Binti Ab Rahim from UNIMAS, this study will develop a comprehensive economic framework for business events that records and reports crucial data such as visitor arrivals and revenue generation.

The economic study will use the new Sarawak-level economic measurements based on the six key economic sectors (manufacturing, agriculture, tourism, forestry, mining, and services) of the Post COVID-19 Development Strategy (PCDS) 2030.

The study is aligned with the PCDS 2030’s aspiration for business events and tourism to increase visitor arrivals by 7.5% per annum and contribute 11% to Sarawak’s gross domestic product by 2030.

1. Legacy Impact Study and Legacy Impact Measurement System: Headed by Professor Dr Lo May Chiun from UNIMAS, the legacy impact study analyses the wider impact of conferences and exhibitions such as community development, social responsibility, policy influence, and investment opportunities.

The study coincides with the development of Malaysia’s first state-of-the-art dashboard system to monitor, validate, report, and capture the impact and legacies of business events held in Sarawak. The system will enable business event planners to track their impact and provide a holistic picture of their contributions to Sarawak and beyond. The development of the legacy measurement system is supported by Professor Dr Wang Yin Chai, from the Faculty of Computer Science and Information Technology at UNIMAS, who brings over 24 years of experience in research and development, with expertise in artificial intelligence, image processing, and Geographic Information System analysis.

“We are in the second year of the Legacy Impact Master Action Plan 2023–2025 and this stage is about measuring and verifying event legacies. With the research and findings from UNIMAS, we are going to improve our legacy measurements and be ready for the reporting and communication phase through the dashboard next year,” said The Hon. Dato Sri Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah, Minister of Tourism, Creative Industry and Performing Arts Sarawak at today’s press conference. “The Tribe Legacy Sarawak campaign is important to the Sarawak government and business events industry. The tagline “Driving Impact Together” is our brand promise that we can drive impact together and measure it. Sarawak will soon be capable of fulfilling this promise for all business event planners.”

The Minister then added that “legacy is not a thought, but an achievable outcome. This emphasis on legacy proved successful when Sarawak was selected to host the International Water Association World Water Congress and Exhibition 2028. By 2030, legacy impact will become a natural process when organising business events and Sarawak will be positioned as the legacy capital of business events in Malaysia and Borneo.”

Meanwhile, Dato Sri Abang Haji Abdul Karim bin Tun Datuk Abang Haji Openg, Chairman of BESarawak, echoed the Minister’s message. “By next year, Sarawak is going to deliver its promise that when you host your business events in Sarawak, you are not just choosing a destination—you are choosing to make a change that can be successfully implemented and measured. UNIMAS has been an excellent legacy research partner and we hope to launch the legacy measurement dashboard by the first quarter of 2025.”

Professor Dr. Rossazana Binti Ab Rahim said, „We are honoured to collaborate with BESarawak on this critical study. With a comprehensive economic matrix, we aim to provide valuable data that will inform strategic decision-making and contribute to the sustainable growth of the business events sector in Sarawak.“

On the other hand, Professor Dr Wang Yin Chai stated, „I am delighted to lead the Legacy Impact Measurement System. Leveraging AI, image processing, and computer technologies, we will create a cutting-edge system to measure the long-term benefits of business events for Sarawak. This project aligns with my passion for using technology to drive positive change.“

Professor Dr. Lo May Chiun stated, „Developing a system to capture the legacy impact of business events is an exciting challenge. This project will allow us to showcase the far-reaching benefits of conferences, beyond just the immediate economic contributions.

In 2023, the Premier of Sarawak announced his intention to establish Sarawak as the legacy capital of business events in Malaysia and Borneo. This will be driven by the Legacy Impact Master Action Plan 2023–2025 where data and innovation play key roles in attracting high-profile legacy events and ESG-centric international partnerships.