MIDE 2017 Review


MIDE 2017 occurs from 12 - 14 May at the PWTC Kuala Lumpur. Earlier than usual, it is scheduled for July as it was brought forward to facilitate the fasting month and the Hari Raya celebration. 

More good news is that MIDE 2017 is also moved from Hall 3 to Hall 1 at the Putra World Trade Centre (PWTC) to a bigger hall space of 8,000 square meters, covering a total gross area of 12,000 square meters of exhibition and retail space.

Malaysia International Dive Expo Review

The largest dive expo in Malaysia also looks at more than 2,000 exhibitors, with 200 participating companies from local and abroad attending. 

MIDE 2017 is geared to welcome business entrepreneurs, tourism boards, dive agencies, brand manufacturers and distributors to utilise the platform created and designed to meet the lucrative business for every organisation.

Some of the new products will be featured at MIDE 2017.

Pros and Cons of MIDE 2017

With any event, there are bound to be pros and cons, and for MIDE2017, there are the great and negative sides.

The good thing about the dive expo is that many consumers or beginners get added awareness about scuba diving and the many different types of services and products in the international markets.

While the dive expo is well known as the main place for purchasing dive equipment, courses, and travel destinations. Many consumers have been spoiled to wait for the expo to buy their dive equipment, leading to a slowdown of purchases from general retailers throughout the year. 

As I am a diver myself, I have been attending MIDE over the years and have spoken to several people, including consumers and retailers. Ultimately, the consumers are the big winners as they hold back their general purchases until the event occurs.

Retailers, conversely, do good business, as suppliers and distributors would take advantage of the massive turnout by offering special discounts for their items or packages.

Most of the time, you would see several items sold at really low prices, and they are 'Only at MIDE Prices', meaning you can only get those prices if you come for the event. Suppliers and distributors are also seen clearing stock with amazing deals, most of the time, overstocked items or last season's items.

Some smaller retailers have expressed frustration as the larger companies have a strong monopoly over the mass consumer in this niche industry, leaving the piece of cake much smaller than it was ten years ago.  

For example, Hypergear, the maker of dry bags, offered a serious 30% discount on some of their bags, and many consumers waited for MIDE to buy these bags. A 20-litre fancy dry bag backpack retails at RM 320.00 with no discount, and at the expo, it was going for RM 220.00, which is a steal. 

In 2015, the Malaysian dive expo generated total sales of RM 8 million; for 2016, overall sales reached approximately a total of RM 10 million; the organisers are anticipating a turnover projected sales between RM 10 to 12 million for MIDE 2017.

The organisers also claim that the expo has delivered and continues to deliver significant revenue growth for participating companies and contributes positively to healthy economic growth towards dive tourism.

Visitors checking out some of the booths at MIDE.

Diving in Malaysia or Abroad? 

Most new divers are also spoiled for choices regarding diving destinations. Ever since AirAsia and many other budget airlines came about, the option to visit neighbouring countries was no longer a luxury and affordable to just about anyone.

Divers now compare countries and live on boards versus ten years ago when it was just which island in Malaysia we dived at. 

Recently, as a diver, I did my inaugural diving at Komodo Island, where I was on a tourism work trip and an experience to share with my readers. Still, the truth be told, many divers have already been there due to the easy connectivity from the budget airlines.

If you talk about diving in the Maldives, four out of ten divers have already been there. This shows that divers now have many choices and do not mind spending that extra money to go abroad for scuba diving. 

Mantanani Island Scuba Diving
The writer diving at Mantanani Island, Sabah.

Raja Ampat has been the flavour over the last few years and is one of the most expensive dive locations in the region. Still, during MIDE 2015, a few dive operators from Raja Ampat were seen at the dive expo; the one I talked to was a Raja Ampat Budget Dive Operator offering basic homestay on land and boat dives.

Speaking further with the operator, they had already known that there are, in fact, many new divers in Malaysia who are seeking budget destinations, but not your usual places and more exotic ones, like Raja Ampat.

For diving in Malaysia in 2017, Miri in Sarawak is one of the growing destinations to explore due to the many beautiful reefs that some even say are comparable to Sabah. 

Only one or two dive operators there frequent the many beautiful Miri dive sites around an hour from the mainland.

Visitors entering the Malaysia International Dive Expo in KL.

ADCON 2017

While MIDE happens, the Asia Dive Conference 2017 (ADCON 2017) will also take place; where this special dive conference will enable visitors to explore more options of the conference that will take place during the 3-day event.

The venue for the Malaysia Dive conference will be held within the main venue hall to give visitors easy access to the seminar room.

ADCON 2017 will also focus on bringing more insight into the technical aspect of diving, servicing and maintenance of dive equipment, camera housing, demonstration of the latest products hands-on, demonstrating and teaching Photoshop techniques, exploring nitrox certification courses and more.

Diving Tourism and Social Media Branding Awareness

Red Sea Jordan Scuba Diving
The writer diving at the Red Sea in Jordan

Unfortunately, there is no speaker to promote digital dive tourism and social media and diving, as this has been the current trend in society over the years. Digital and Social Media for diving is one of the best platforms to help businesses, dive resorts, and operators brand themselves online.

I have spoken to many local universities and events on social media and tourism; even as a diver who has been to several places worldwide, I have promoted this hobby over the years using Malaysia, Asia and my multiple social media channels.

One day, it would be an honour to be invited to talk at a diving forum or seminar, but in the meantime, you can follow Malaysia Asia on Instagram for my updates.

MIDE 2017
Date: 12-14 May 2017
Time: 10.00 AM to 9.00 PM
Venue: Hall 1, PWTC, Kuala Lumpur
Website: www.mide.com.my

With a robust and consistent track record from 2006 to 2016, approximately 110,000 visitors have visited the MIDE dive exhibition and expo in Kuala Lumpur.

The number of scuba divers has also grown over the last five years, with more and more people wanting to experience this fantastic hobby, locally and also abroad and with MIDE being the pioneering force behind the scuba diving industry in Malaysia that organises these events, the number will continue to grow steadily.

Conclusion

MIDE 2016 was equally impressive, with huge turnout numbers and vendors with many exciting destinations on display, plus talks and demonstrations.

For the would-be diver, a visit to MIDE 2017 will open up your diving interest and possibly excite your passion for seeing the wonderful underwater life in many places around the region.

Malaysia Asia

Blogging since 2007, but writing online since 1997. I belong to the 1st generation of worldwide bloggers, which is of course old-school. Since 2008, I created Malaysia Asia and this travel, flood, gadget and lifestyle blog has won numerous physical awards from tourism boards around Malaysia. (Not those online awards). After 12 years of blogging, I have semi-retired and now blog about things I like, do product reviews and enjoy life. My work has been featured in Lonely Planet, CNN Travel, Yahoo Travel, Wall Street Journal, and many other international publications. Find out more about me and thank you.

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