Routes 2008 set for Malaysia
KUALA LUMPUR – Malaysia will have the honour as the first Asian country to hold The World Route Development Forum (Routes 2008) from October 12-14 next year at the Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre.
This prestigious event will showcase Malaysia as both a rising player in the aviation industry as well as a MICE destination.
Forum’s host, Malaysia Airports Holdings Bhd’s (MAHB), had competed with regional countries for Routes 2008 and its hosting of a similar forum on a regional level gave it the edge and clinched it the event.
MAHB’s Managing Director, Datuk Seri Bashir Ahmad (pictured), said that although Routes was not as big as other world conferences, “those attending it will be crucial not only for MAHB but also be a boost to Malaysia’s tourism industry.”
MAHB has lined up an exciting programme for the delegates of Routes 2008, which includes the Formula One championship and sightseeing. It will also offer, for the first time, a spouse and family programme to encourage delegates to have a holiday in Malaysia before or after the event.
Additionally, MAHB hopes that hosting the forum will highlight the KL Internationational Airport as an attractive regional aviation hub and attracts new airlines to Malaysia.
“A lot of the European and American airlines have yet to come to Malaysia and we want to encourage them to do so,” said Bashir.
Despite Routes being European-centric, MAHB hopes to attract a large participation for next year’s forum. It has set a target of 2,800 delegates and is quite confident of getting the numbers.
Routes’ chairman and founder, Mike Howarth, said he expected Routes next year to be a bigger and better affair. This was because Routes would be held for the first time in Asia and would attract both regional airlines and airports, which did not attend past forums in Europe.
Corinne Wan
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