Malaysian International Tourism Bloggers Conference & Awards MITBCA

As you all know, I was invited by the ministry of Tourism, Malaysia to present a paper in the conference Malaysian International Tourism Bloggers Conference & Awards MITBCA.
It was a wonderful experience. I got to meet so many people whom till now I knew only virtually. Shared and learnt many experiences and tips as well. It was a two day conference with emphasis on movement of social media in travel and leisure industry.

The Tourism minister with the speakers. Can you guess which one is me? 🙂

I am with the Tourism Minister YB Dato’ Dr Ng Yen Yen, posing for the photographers. 🙂

The topics at Malaysian International Tourism Bloggers Conference & Awards MITBCA ranged from creating an Engaged Tourism Social Media Community to Measuring ROI in tourism using social media. I was requested to speak on the most difficult (I think so) and sought after topic. It was “Monetizing via social media- where to start and how to grow”. I was approached by students, bloggers and other entrepreneurs from the first day itself to know what it is going to be.

Students of tourism attending keenly.

Lunch with staff of tourism ministry.

At the gala dinner. The stage was on fire !

On first night of the conference, we were invited for a gala dinner at the award ceremony where local bloggers were awarded and we had a wonderful time. The stage was on fire. We did Chicken dance with the tourism minister YB Dato’ Dr Ng Yen Yen and her staff. The minister herself is a bundle of energy. I wish our ministers are as enthusiastic and participative in nature as her. 🙂

When it comes to work, she is one of them who interacts to learn and teach rather than preach, makes an impact whenever she enters a roomful of people. So the same approach and attitude flows down to all the officials of tourism ministry. I found each one of them very warm in their disposition.

High tea with Tourism minister Dr Ng Yen Yen and her officials was the last official item on agenda on second day but our exploration wasn’t over yet. First, we went to a night tour to their awesome new capital Putra Jaya, especially designed to decongest the main city Kuala Lumpur. It hosts several government offices and their officials.

Next day I headed to Melaka, one of my favourite cities in Malaysia. Ministry of Tourism had made all the arrangements for our transport & stay. We were accompanied with a registered tourist guide who unfortunately knew less than me about the place. 🙂 A lovely woman tourist officer was also deputed on duty because women were travelling. In short, we were pampered to no end.
Two days in Melaka and we were soaked in history. Came back to Kuala Lumpur, the city I am at home.

Today evening I fly back to India to share more interesting stories and photos of Malaysia with you all. 🙂
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