Deputy Minister of Tourism Emphasises the Importance of MICE Contributions to the Tourism Sector

Jakarta (ANTARA) - Deputy Minister of Tourism Ni Luh Puspa emphasised the importance of the contributions from the events and MICE (Meetings, Incentives, Conventions, and Exhibitions) industry to the growth of Indonesia’s tourism sector. “Events and MICE have a multiplier effect on the tourism sector. Events not only bring activities but also create greater economic value for tourism destinations and Indonesian society,” said Ni Luh during a discussion in Jakarta on Tuesday. Ni Luh highlighted that tourists attending events or business activities generally have a higher propensity to spend compared to those interested in leisure tourism. She believes this potential can continue to develop and strengthen the role of the events and MICE industry as one of the strategic pillars in Indonesia’s tourism ecosystem. “This growth is driven by various global trends, including the development of hybrid events. After the COVID-19 pandemic, we see hybrid events, as well as the need for corporate travel and the strengthening of convention infrastructure in various countries,” she said. Next is the development of infrastructure and a competitive and sustainable IP event portfolio, strengthening the ecosystem that encourages investment and more adaptive incentive schemes. The development of the tourism events industry is also directed towards strengthening marketing and promotion, protection of intellectual property rights, and the application of international standard sustainability principles. “The events industry is expected not only to grow but also to become more qualitative, globally competitive, and provide real contributions to the national economy,” she stated. Ni Luh also conveyed that throughout 2025, the tourism sector has shown positive trends. Based on data from the Central Statistics Agency (BPS), in that year Indonesia received 15.39 million foreign tourists. Domestic tourist trips also reached 1.2 billion, exceeding the previous target of 1.08 billion trips. In terms of contribution to Gross Domestic Product (GDP), the tourism sector provided income of 3.96 percent. “On the foreign exchange side, the tourism sector also recorded positive performance with an achievement of US$18.27 billion. We should be proud of these achievements because this is a joint effort,” she said. Another point she emphasised is that the transformation of tourism in Indonesia can only be realised through pentahelix collaboration. “The Ministry of Tourism will continue to be present as a strategic partner for the Indonesian events industry while encouraging the strengthening of collaboration and the development of the tourism industry going forward. With a strong collaboration foundation, we have great opportunities to bring Indonesia’s events industry to a higher level,” she added.