Licensing process for int'l meets to be simplified<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): The government will simplify arduous licensing
\nprocedures for the organization of domestic and international
\nconventions to promote the country's meeting, incentive,
\nconvention and exhibition (MICE) industry, an official says.<\/p>\n
Director for Convention and International Relations of the
\nDirectorate General of Tourism W.J. Pranoto told The Jakarta Post
\nhere over the weekend that private organizers frequently complain
\nthat licensing for domestic and international MICE is still
\ncomplicated, thereby discouraging foreigners from organizing
\nevents in the country.<\/p>\n
According to Pranoto, an organizer of a tourism-related
\nexhibition, for instance, is often required to get licenses from
\nthe Ministries of Trade or Industry. \"But if the organizer
\ninvites participants from countries which have no diplomatic
\nrelationship with Indonesia, it should get other permits from
\nseveral government institutions,\" he said.<\/p>\n
He said that the Ministry of Tourism, Post and
\nTelecommunications will soon hold meetings with officials from
\nrelated institutions, including the National Police, the Armed
\nForces Strategic Intelligence Agency (BAIS), the National
\nIntelligence Coordinating Agency (Bakin), the Armed Forces, the
\nMinistry of Home Affairs, the Ministry of Trade, the Directorate
\nGeneral of Immigration and the Directorate General of Customs and
\nExcise.<\/p>\n
\"Based on the Tourism Law of 1990, licensing for MICE
\nbusinesses is actually the Ministry of Tourism, Post and
\nTelecommunications' domain. But procedures to get MICE permits
\nare so far very arduous,\" he said.<\/p>\n
Easier<\/p>\n
\"Under the coordination of the Directorate General of Tourism,
\nwe hope the licensing for MICE will be easier,\" he said, adding
\nthat the progress of the business also depends on professionals,
\nfacilities and infrastructures.<\/p>\n
Data from the directorate general show that Indonesia last
\nyear hosted 642 events, which indicated a three percent increase
\nfrom 623 events in 1992. Of last year's total events, 96 were
\ninternational events attended by 12,215 foreign participants.<\/p>\n
Singapore recently claimed to be the most popular meeting
\nvenue in Asia in 1993 with 116 international meetings out of 690
\nheld in the island republic.<\/p>\n
In Indonesia, over the past five years, most of the events
\nwere held in Bali (40.71 percent), Jakarta (37.72 percent),
\nYogyakarta (5.4 percent) and Bandung in West Java (4.61 percent),
\nwhile the remainder were held in Surabaya (East Java), Medan
\n(North Sumatra), Batam (Riau), Ujungpandang (South Sulawesi) and
\nManado (North Sulawesi).<\/p>\n
Pranoto said that the number of spacious convention rooms in
\nhotels and tourism complexes should be increased as there are
\ncurrently only two sites, in Jakarta and Bali, which can
\naccommodate more than 2,000 participants within a single room.<\/p>\n
He also said that there are only 12 professional companies
\nlicensed to organize MICE. (icn)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/licensing-process-for-intl-meets-to-be-simplified-1447893297",
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
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