Local tourism players in Johor Baru are getting ready for the upcoming Asia-Pacific Climate Week (APCW) 2023. Johor Tourist Guides Association chairman, Jimmy Leong, stated on Monday (Nov 6) that the event will be a test for both the tourism industry and state government. Leong, who is also the Malaysian Tourist Guides Council president, mentioned that local tour guides are preparing tours for the foreign delegates. He further added that if the APCW is successful, it will open the doors for hosting major international events in the future and attract a large number of foreign tourists. Leong also highlighted the importance of ensuring a litter-free environment, as the delegates will likely compare Johor with Singapore.
Additionally, Ivan Teo, the chairman of the Malaysian Association of Hotels (MAH) Johor chapter, revealed that there are 17,500 hotel rooms available for foreign and local visitors in Johor. He mentioned that most of the hotel rooms have already been booked due to the extended weekend holiday coinciding with the Deepavali celebrations on November 12. Teo anticipates that this trend will continue with the APCW event, which starts the day after the Deepavali celebrations. Teo further explained that hotels in Johor Baru are collaborating with tour companies to offer tours to the delegates, ensuring their stay is comfortable.
The APCW is a joint effort between the Johor and federal governments and the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change. The event will take place from November 13 to 17 at the Persada Johor International Convention Centre. It is expected that about 2,000 delegates from 150 countries will attend the conference. The programme in Johor is one of four regional climate weeks scheduled for this year to build momentum leading up to the UN Climate Change Conference in Dubai.
