Local exhibition industry lacks recognition: Iqbal<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): The convention and exhibition industry in
\nIndonesia failed to do as well as was expected as the industry
\nstill lacked networking with other businesses, an executive said
\non Monday.<\/p>\n
Chairman of the Indonesian Congress and Convention Association
\n(INCCA) Iqbal Abdullah said: \"There is also a tendency for
\ncompanies organizing conventions to assign their own organizing
\ncommittees instead of hiring a professional convention organizer
\n(PCO),\" he said.<\/p>\n
He was speaking at a dialogue on the Meetings, Incentives,
\nConventions and Exhibitions (MICE) industry in Indonesia.<\/p>\n
Iqbal stated that out of 945 events held in 1997, less than
\n100 were arranged by PCOs<\/p>\n
This trait caused the development of human resources in the
\nMICE industry to falter, he said, adding that currently there
\nwere only 34 PCOs in the country.<\/p>\n
Pontjo Sutowo, chairman of the Indonesian Tourism Promotion
\nBoard (BPPI), said the prospect for MICE industry in Indonesia
\nwas very high, \"just not very well-exploited yet.\"<\/p>\n
He agreed with Iqbal that the lack of recognition in the
\ncountry's PCOs had partly contributed to the slow growth in the
\nindustry.<\/p>\n
\"If there is an international event in the country, why not
\nhire professionals instead of assigning a national committee,\"
\nPontjo said.<\/p>\n
\"The government's acknowledgement of the industry will help
\nbuild up the people's awareness of the business,\" he said, adding
\nthat the use of professional organizers would improve the quality
\nof the event, which would in return bring more benefits to the
\nparticipants of an exhibition or a convention.<\/p>\n
Iqbal said the exhibitions and conventions could also bring in
\nmore foreign exchange into the country.<\/p>\n
The length of stay for a person attending MICE events was
\napproximately five days while spending at least US$500 a day,
\ncompared to only $100 a day by tourists, he said.<\/p>\n
\"And a convention could have at least 500 participants,\" Iqbal
\nadded.<\/p>\n
This year the MICE industry is once again striving to make its
\nexistence known, he said.<\/p>\n
He said this year it would be able to earn at least 75 percent
\nof the targeted $1 billion.<\/p>\n
\"The special MICE exhibition at the Indonesian Tourism Mart
\nlast month had made a difference,\" Iqbal said, adding that some
\ncontracts have been made at the mart for MICE events in the
\ncountry both by local companies and multinational companies.<\/p>\n
He said that Jakarta remains the favorite target for MICE,
\nespecially for industries and the financial sectors, while Bali
\nis a popular spot for science conventions. (10)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/local-exhibition-industry-lacks-recognition-iqbal-1447893297",
"image": ""
},
"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
}