International surveyors optimistic over Indonesia

International surveyors optimistic over Indonesia

Dadan Wijaksana, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

Jakarta's status as an international conference destination may
not be on par as yet with Singapore or Hong Kong.

And with a string of deadly bombings in recent years -- which
exposes security problems and further hurt the already dwindling
confidence on security after the massive riots in 1998 -- it's
hard to argue otherwise.

But, to some people, the situation here is not so bad.

Just ask Markku Villikka, director at the Kopenhagen-based
International Federation of Surveyors (FIG) -- which just
completed its third Asia-Pacific regional conference in Jakarta,
grouping together nearly 400 participants from 35 countries.

"The problem with Indonesia is that, the country is not fully
known. When we get news about Indonesia, they are bad ones.

"But when people do get here, the reality is quite different
and I think people who have come here, or have better knowledge
about Indonesia, are confident they can organize good events
here. It's pretty much about image and about knowing the
country," he said on Wednesday, the last day of the conference
held at the JW Marriott hotel.

Villikka recalled debates among members over whether to go on
with the plan to hold the conference in Jakarta, after a series
of bombs attacks -- from the Bali bombing in 2002, the Marriot
bomb in the following year, and to the bombing in front of the
Australian Embassy last month.

Even at that time, he urged other members to proceed with the
plan. "We cannot condemn the whole nation based on individual
incidents and that things like these can happen anywhere in the
world."

"We only had problems with cancellations the Canadian,
Australian, U.S. and UK chapters -- that's mainly because of the
travel (advisories). The rest decided to go on and today we can
say that we have made the right decision."

Communication and publicity about the country should then be
key to get Jakarta back on the international radar when it comes
to holding a global convention, because facilities and costs-
wise, Jakarta remains competitive.

"For the good technical facilities, and how well the local
organizing committee and people have treated us and how they
organized the conference -- Jakarta, and Indonesia, is of
excellent value of money.

"The quality of the conference, the services and professional
quality, is absolutely among the best we've had," Villikka added.

Indra Sukirno, executive director at the Jakarta Convention
Bureau (JCB) -- a state-appointed marketing consultant in charge
of promoting the city as a global convention destination, was
hopeful that things would get better for Jakarta in the future.

"The FIG's convention here should serve as an indicator that
more international associations can hold their conventions here,"
she said, adding that FIG's convention was the first that JCB had
won via a bidding process since the crisis.

The global conference industry is seen as lucrative, not only
because it has plenty of multiplier-effects on the economy, but
because it also provides a chance for a transfer of knowledge
between foreigners and Indonesians.

By comparison, in 1998, the riots in Jakarta prompted massive
cancellations of conferences. "It was worth some US$20 million in
potential revenue. You can imagine how lucrative this industry
can be," Indra said.

For Villikka however, things should get better for Jakarta in
the future. "If people ask me, I would certainly say that we've
had a conference in Jakarta, and despite the earlier problems, it
was a great success.

"I'm more than happy to recommend Jakarta for a conference
destination."