World tourism experts converge in Sabah for WTC 2022

‘Tourism Futures Reimagined’ will be the theme for the 6th World Tourism Conference (WTC) 2022 happening in Kota Kinabalu this month. Key speakers and tourism industry professionals from around the world will mark their presence and gather at Sabah International Convention Centre (SICC) from 28 to 30 November 2022.

To date, close to 800 international and local participants from over 40 countries have secured their registration to the much anticipated World Tourism Conference. Foreign dignitaries, Malaysia government departments and agencies, tourism professionals, academicians, and NGO are among the list of attendees.

Datuk Seri Panglima Haji Hajiji bin Haji Noor is expected to attend the opening ceremony. Sabah State Government is hosting the official WTC 2022 Dinner on 28 November 2022.

The World Tourism Conference will discourse about 4 main topics, over a few sessions with 24 multinational invited speakers. The keynote presentation will be delivered by Prof Dato’ ChM. Dr Mazlin Mokhtar – Deputy Head (Research) United Nations Sustainable Development Solutions Network-Asia, Sunway University.

Session 1 for Decoding Tourism Futures – Foresight & Scenarios will feature Mr Javier Ruescas Senior Programme Officer UNWTO, Dr Wouter Geerts- Head of Research Skift, Dr Johanna Loehr – Postdoctoral Research Fellow Griffith University, Dr Ian Yeoman – Professor of Tourism Futures Victoria University of Wellington and Lau Yin May – Group Chief Marketing Officer Malaysia Airlines.

Session 2 for Discovering Niche Opportunities for Growth will feature Dr Laszlo Puczko – CEO & Co-Founder Health Tourism Worldwide (Hungary), Dr Amran Hamzah – Professor in Tourism Planning Universiti Teknologi Malaysia, Jane Lim – Vice President Global Market Tripadvisor, Mich Goh – Head of Public Policy Southeast Asia Airbnb and Yusno Yunos – CEO & Founder Evenesis.

‘Redefining Tourism Success- Inspiring Stories’ are the key topic for discussion in session 3. His Excellency Dr. Abdulla Mausoom – Minister of Tourism Republic of Maldives, Gary Bowerman – Director of Check-in Asia, Martha Domenech – Director-General Tourism Catalunya Spain, Brent Anderson – Regional General Manager Tourism Australia, Natalie Kidd – Chief People and Purpose Officer Intrepid Travel, Albert – Co-founder Traveloka and Chin Yoon Khen – Founder & CEO LokaLocal are set to be the speakers line up.

Fourth session ‘Rebuilding Tourism Resilience and Readiness’ speakers are Dr Raymond Rastegar – Researcher & lecturer The University of Queensland Australia, Carol Mackenzie – Group Head of Crisis Management & Business Continuity TUI Group, HC Chan – CEO Sunway Malls & Theme Parks, Emanuel Tutek – Partner, Bluerock Consulting Austria & Croatia, Dr S.Mostafa Rasoolimanesh – Director Centre of Research and Innovation in Tourism (CRiT) Taylor’s University and Prof. Jafar Jafari – Professor of Hospitality & Tourism University of Wisconsin-Stout.

Representing Sabah on the exclusive WTC stage will be Dr Maklarin Lakim, Director of Sabah Parks and Jessica Yew, Co-founder and Director of Sticky Rice Travel.

“We are excited to welcome WTC delegates to Sabah. It is going to be an interesting and fulfilling event. The Community-based Tourism Roadshow will also be held in SICC concurrently from 27 to 29 November 2022.”

“This will be a perfect opportunity for our district offices & district tourism associations to showcase their tourism product and initiatives. Likewise, a convenient platform for our international delegates to get to know our efforts in uplifting the community’s economic potential via tourism” commented Noredah Othman, Chief Executive Officer of Sabah Tourism Board.

World Tourism Conference 2022 will also among other highlights the distinctiveness of Malaysian culture, indigenous handicrafts, traditional foods and local products.