Penang is a magical state in Malaysia that is steeped in rich history and heritage set amidst the backdrop of a thriving and modern city. The captivating fusion of old and new has cultivated one of Southeast Asia’s most vibrant cities and one of the world’s must visit places. With its bold gastronomical culture, charming colonial architecture, and beautiful nature hotspots, Penang offers the best of Asia to the world and that is where the first ever travel trade exchange platform, Penang International Travel Exchange (PITE) was proudly introduced in 2018 by Penang Convention & Exhibition Bureau (PCEB).
PITE is a homegrown travel trade event exchange that aims to position Penang as the leading Business Events and Travel Destination in Asia Pacific. PITE is also widely popular at the global tourism markets in Malaysia. Each year, selected buyers from around the world will be brought into Penang to experience Penang’s many unfiltered experiences. The event is inclusive of B2B sessions along with site inspections, education workshops and networking events.
The first edition of PITE (2018) has marked a significance for Penang in hosting India's leading travel product, the Global Panorama Showcase (GPS), where it conducted its first Educational Destination Workshop-International (EDWIN) in Malaysia. PITE was co-organised by Apollo Conferences (now known as ACE Conferences & Exhibitions) - Penang's first homebased professional conference organiser. PITE 2018 was held for over five days with B2B sessions for Malaysian Business Events and Tourism Suppliers to showcase their products and services to the Indian buyers.
Penang aimed to position itself as the leading business events and leisure destination in Asia Pacific with the return of the PITE 2019. It has attracted 80 buyers from China, Philippines, India, Vietnam, Indonesia, Singapore, Thailand, Myanmar, Azerbaijan, United States and Middle East. Among the highlights of PITE 2019 were the gala dinner on the iconic ferry and networking events at The Top and The Habitat. In year 2020, PITE 2020 was held in a digital tradeshow format for the first time due to the travel restrictions caused by the pandemic. There were three different segments to cater for the different time zones, namely the Asia Pacific market, Europe market and the North and South American market. PITE 2020 also became the first digital event in Malaysia with new and improved online digital technology.
