Local exhibition industry lacks recognition: Iqbal

JAKARTA (JP): The convention and exhibition industry in Indonesia failed to do as well as was expected as the industry still lacked networking with other businesses, an executive said on Monday.

Chairman of the Indonesian Congress and Convention Association (INCCA) Iqbal Abdullah said: "There is also a tendency for companies organizing conventions to assign their own organizing committees instead of hiring a professional convention organizer (PCO)," he said.

He was speaking at a dialogue on the Meetings, Incentives, Conventions and Exhibitions (MICE) industry in Indonesia.

Iqbal stated that out of 945 events held in 1997, less than 100 were arranged by PCOs

This trait caused the development of human resources in the MICE industry to falter, he said, adding that currently there were only 34 PCOs in the country.

Pontjo Sutowo, chairman of the Indonesian Tourism Promotion Board (BPPI), said the prospect for MICE industry in Indonesia was very high, "just not very well-exploited yet."

He agreed with Iqbal that the lack of recognition in the country's PCOs had partly contributed to the slow growth in the industry.

"If there is an international event in the country, why not hire professionals instead of assigning a national committee," Pontjo said.

"The government's acknowledgement of the industry will help build up the people's awareness of the business," he said, adding that the use of professional organizers would improve the quality of the event, which would in return bring more benefits to the participants of an exhibition or a convention.

Iqbal said the exhibitions and conventions could also bring in more foreign exchange into the country.

The length of stay for a person attending MICE events was approximately five days while spending at least US$500 a day, compared to only $100 a day by tourists, he said.

"And a convention could have at least 500 participants," Iqbal added.

This year the MICE industry is once again striving to make its existence known, he said.

He said this year it would be able to earn at least 75 percent of the targeted $1 billion.

"The special MICE exhibition at the Indonesian Tourism Mart last month had made a difference," Iqbal said, adding that some contracts have been made at the mart for MICE events in the country both by local companies and multinational companies.

He said that Jakarta remains the favorite target for MICE, especially for industries and the financial sectors, while Bali is a popular spot for science conventions. (10)