Universiti Malaysia Terengganu through the Faculty of Business, Economics and Social Development (FPEPS) held the Global Tourism Conference 2021 (GTC2021) via online platform on 7-9 September. The success of the first conference, with encouraging participation from local and international participants, prompted the faculty to hold the conference for the second time. The conference that focused on the Tourism and Hospitality sector was co-organised by Terengganu state government and Victoria University, Australia.

With the theme Tourism Innovation and Digitalisation: A New Way in Redesigning Tourism Landscape, the international conference involved 81 papers by participants from local and international higher institutions. The theme was chosen as the main focus of discussion to help steer the survival of the country’s tourism industry that was severely affected during the Covid-19 pandemic.

One of the main aims of the conference was to redesign the concept of tourism in order to re-establish Malaysia as the chosen tourism destination by every tourist in the world. The industry needs to rise again from the effect of the pandemic through tourism innovation that includes digitalisation of the industry.  

The conference was also attended by international participants from Australia, Portugal, Thailand, Japan, Nigeria, Saudi Arabia, Vietnam, and Indonesia.

Selected papers presented at the conference will be published in several journals Journal of Sustainability Science and Management (JSSM), Journal of Business and Social Development (JBSD), TEAM Journal of Hospitality and Tourism, Journal of Tourism, Hospitality and Culinary Arts (JTHCA), BIMP-EAGA Journal for Sustainable Tourism Development, International Journal of Event, Tourism and Hospitality, Asian Academy of Management Journal (AAMJ), Journal of Global Hospitality and Tourism (JGHT), and Journal of Economics and Sustainability.

The closing ceremony was officiated by Terengganu Menteri Besar Y.A.B. Dato’ Seri Dr. Ahmad Samsuri Mokhtar. In his speech, he said that the Covid-19 pandemic has impacted the tourism sector not only in Malaysia but also around the world, with the industry players hit the hardest by the interstate and intercountry travel to prevent the spread of Covid-19. He also said that the industry players especially those in the hotel, tourism, and transport divisions need to constantly innovate to ensure the industry’s survival amid the challenging times.

He also mentioned the importance of digitalisation as part of the innovation in tourism industry, where the use of sophisticated technology can pave the way for more borderless collaboration and smart sharing. He also emphasized that the pandemic may have compelled the tourism sector to develop new strategies that may involve digitalisation to remain sustainable.

Towards the end of his speech, he expressed his hope that the conference can assist stakeholders in planning and implementing programmes that can provide solutions and create opportunities in tourism sectors in Terengganu and other places, even at the international level.

Befitting the conference theme, FPEPS invited three renowned keynote speakers, Professor Brian King (The Associate Dean and Professor in the School of Hotel and Tourism Management at Hong Kong Polytechnic University), Professor Cihan Cobanoglu (The McKibbon Endowed Chair Professor of the School of Hospitality & Tourism Management at the University of South Florida Sarasota-Manatee campus), and Professor Michael Hall (Professor in Marketing in the Department of Management, Marketing & Entrepreneurship at the University of Canterbury, Christchurch, New Zealand), and also a speaker from the industry, Mr. John Chong (Owner of Summer Bay Resort, Pulau Lang Tengah). UMT also invited Profesor Ramayah Thurasamy from Universiti Sains Malaysia to enliven the pre-conference session a day before the main event.

GTC2021 was held a little differently than other conferences in that participants were encouraged to promote Terengganu as one of the main tourism destinations through the contest Terengganu Unforgettable Moment.

In addition, participants were given discount vouchers redeemable at various hotels and stores in Terengganu as part of the effort to boost the tourism industry in the state. For the first time, the conference offered rewards to participants in the form of research grants. The grants are meant to help steer the development of the tourism industry in Terengganu in the short term and long term. The grants were sponsored by the state government through its Department of Tourism.

During the closing, three papers were announced as best papers, nine participants as winners of Lucky Draw with prizes being stay packages at hotels and resorts in Terengganu, eight as winners of Terengganu Unforgettable Moment contest, and five as winners of GTC2021 Research Grants totalling RM41,000.

FPEPS extends its gratitude to the conference sponsor, the Centre for Knowledge Transfer and Industrial Networking at UMT, and all strategic partners including Primula Beach Hotel, KETENGAH, Ziq Bakery & Cake, Laguna Redang Island Resort, Summer Bay Resort, Grand Ion Delemen Hotel, Genting Highlands, Sumai Hotel Apartment, Duyong Marina & Resort, Raia Hotel, Homestay Teluk Ketapang, Lambo Sari, TY Hotel, Jakel, Aputirich and Warisan Spa on their contributions and cooperation in making GTC2021 a success.

Prepared by:

Associate Professor Dr Hafiza Aisyah Hashim and Dr Fathilah Ismail
Lecturers
Faculty of Business, Economics, and Social Development
Universiti Mlaaysia Terengganu

Published by:

Corporate Communications Office
Universiti Malaysia Terengganu
Email: pro@umt.edu.my
Tel: 09-668418/4261