However, reaching this milestone does not imply that one eye will be closed when it comes to safety protocols. “Although fully vaccinated, the industry will continue to adopt and implement all safety and precautionary measures,” said Mr. Hii Chang Kee, Permanent Secretary to the Ministry of Tourism, Arts and Culture Sarawak. “Tourism and business events activities will be organised with strict adherence to the government stipulated Standard Operating Procedures (SOP). The safety of those involved - whether as hosts, suppliers or visitors - remains a top priority in our state.”

From the business events industry perspective, this development is much awaited news for business events players. “The business events industry is finally one step closer to restarting again,” said Amelia Roziman, CEO of Business Events Sarawak. “We are 70% in delivering our State recovery plan for business events with updated SOP and improved incentivised packages, alongside creative marketing and promotional materials to ensure the success of the events that are being held in Sarawak. We are all eager to restart again and can't wait to launch our brand new recovery efforts soon”.

Sarawak is the first state in Malaysia to complete the industrial vaccination programme for tourism and business events partners, led by the Ministry of Tourism, Arts and Culture Sarawak (MTAC) in collaboration with the Ministry of Tourism, Arts and Culture Malaysia (MOTAC), Sarawak Tourism Federation (STF), Ministry of Health of Malaysia (Kementerian Kesihatan Malaysia) and Timberland Medical Centre.

Photo booths present at the vaccination centre were sponsored by BESarawak in collaboration with Sarawak Tourism Board (STB), Sarawak Business Events Association (SBE), and Malaysian Association of Convention and Exhibition Organisers and Supplier (MACEOS) Sarawak Chapter.

For more information on the press release, contact Rose Bruce on rose@sarawakcb.com or call (office) +6082242516.