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The first edition of X-Change Malaysia '21, a virtual meeting exchange programme, curated by Ab & Artho Tourism Marketing and PR, held recently in Kuala Lumpur has revealed some interesting facts that are important for the Malaysian tourism enterprises and travel professionals to take action and respond to the evolving trends and expectations.    

The Director General of Tourism Malaysia, YBhg Dato' Haji Zainuddin Abdul Wahab and Chairman of Global Chamber of Business Leaders, Mr Dejan Stancer presented keynote addresses to welcome participants.

24 Malaysian and international guest panellists discussed and exchanged ideas on key topics including new travel motivations and aspirations, sustainability, digitalisation and exceptional travel experiences as Malaysia prepares for the reopening of travel borders and resumption of international travel.

Guest panellists included YBhg Datuk Musa Haji Yusof, Deputy Director General, Tourism Malaysia;   Mr Guillaume Linton, CEO of ASIA; Tiara Jacqueline, Owner and Creator, Tiarasa Resorts; Lau Yin May, Group Chief Marketing Officer, Malaysia Airlines,  Anthony Wong, Managing Director of Frangipani Resort; Enrique Nalda, Co-Founder, Red Visitor and more.

The key takeaways from the first edition of X-Change Malaysia '21 are:

• Digital transformation is essential to all tourism businesses
• The demand for off-the-beaten-path destinations and activities is high, as is the preference for online bookings
• Travellers from Europe want travel agents to advise and process easy and smooth travel arrangements for their long-haul trips so they can travel hassle-free
• Community-based tourism is popular and provides global marketing opportunities
• Diversity and multiculturalism are Malaysia's best-known assets
• Curated and unique travel experiences are in demand
• Think creatively about sustainable travel ideas
• Enable strong, regular and consistent communications to push clients to the Internet
• Malaysia to communicate more on its history, arts, nature and culture
• Importance to extend confidence and assurance of travel for new travellers
• Talent is a factor that optimises the industry's competitiveness and ensures sustainability

Online visitors also accessed the seminars and a travel shop that offered travel deals and packages by travel agents, hotels and leisure attractions.

X-Change Malaysia '21, curated by Ab & Artho Tourism Marketing and PR is part of the company's tourism solidarity efforts to bring together key tourism industry players locally and internationally in preparation for the reopening of Malaysia travel borders.

Special thanks to collaborators namely Nazsoft Tech, Traveloka, Global Chamber of Business Leaders (GCBL), Tourism Malaysia, Pavilion Hotel KL, PR Newswire and the Malaysian French Chamber of Commerce and Industry (MFCCI).

The 2nd edition of X-Change Malaysia will be held on 26th January 2022.

For more information go to xchangemalaysia.abartho.com/

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