Sarawak, a part of Malaysia, has published the first issue and volume of the International Journal of Business Events and Legacies, known as Ijbel. The magazine is the world’s first international academic journal specific to business events and the legacy of such events. Its core objective is to address issues via case studies, research and viewpoints on topics such as event planning and delivery and strategies adopted by interconnected sectors such as hospitality, tourism and economics. 

 The magazine contains:

  • Six academic papers, four industry papers and one special note on today’s hot topics, such as the effectiveness of hybrid events.
  • Managing sustainable events in an urban destination.
  • Hosting business events in times of crisis.
  • Optimising e-Tourism and e-Marketplaces for business events and legacy approaches. 

“The journal is an important piece of literature for Sarawak. It helps the Sarawak Government achieve a few of the post-Covid-19 Development Strategy 2030 strategic thrusts by targeting specific economic sectors and enablers,” says Dato Sri Abdul Karim Rahmah Hamzah.

Sarawak’s Minister of Tourism, Creative Industry and Performing Arts revealed that the journal is achieving three of the strategy’s goals: “Under the PCDS enabler of Education & Human Capital, Ijbel is helping to optimise Sarawak’s human capital and produce an agile workforce that can excel globally. It also includes promoting entrepreneurship. 

The second goal is the PCDS enabler of Innovation, where the journal is leveraging research and commercialisation to drive global innovation. And the third is the PCDS enabler of Sustainable Development, where research is used to make economic activities more environmentally friendly that can achieve global recognition. 

In addition to PCDS 2030 achievements, Ijbel is on track to achieve the UN Sustainable Development Goals of Quality Education and Partnership for the Goals. 

The magazine is a joint effort between BE Sarawak and the International Congress & Convention Association (ICCA) to raise collaborations within the international industry. 

ICCA CEO Senthil Gopinath says: “ICCA believes our collaboration with Ijbel is substantial, especially in this new business events environment, giving additional and optional knowledge-sharing platforms. Together, we can achieve greater results and elevate the development of the business events Industry to the next level regionally, nationally, and globally.” 

“Sarawak’s business events industry is proactive in searching for new ways to deliver business events successfully and lead the way in terms of industry development,” says Amelia Roziman, BE Sarawak’s CEO. “We are looking outwards to help the global industry reset and recover through empirical research and real industry experiences. It involves forging collaborations at micro and macro levels with local, national and international players.” 

Ijbel is a collaboration between BE Sarawak, the International Congress & Convention Association as the exclusive international association partner, Curtin University Malaysia, Universiti Teknologi Mara and Sarawak Research Society. 

Download a copy of the journal for free.