Minister outlines four key topics for Seabef 2026

Minister of Tourism Widiyanti Putri Wardhana has outlined four key topics to be discussed by tourism industry players at the Southeast Asia Business Events Forum (Seabef) 2026. Speaking at the opening of Seabef 2026 in Jakarta on Wednesday, Widiyanti stated that as the role of event organisation continues to evolve, Seabef serves as a platform that encourages innovation and collaboration within the region. She noted that since its inception in 2023, the forum’s discussions have progressed from building and strengthening the business events industry to a broader understanding of the power of events as a driver of tourism competitiveness, sustainable development, and long-term economic value creation. This is reflected in this year’s theme, ‘Beyond Business Events: Redefining the Future of Events as a Catalyst for Competitive, Sustainable, and High-Value Tourism Growth’, which reaffirms the role of events as a catalyst for competitive, sustainable, and high-value tourism growth. The second topic is competitive, sustainable, and future-ready destinations, which emphasises building resilient and competitive destinations through the application of sustainability principles, responsiveness to global trends, and strengthening the role of events as strategic tourism assets. The third topic is innovation, experience, and industry transformation, which examines how digital technology, artificial intelligence, and various innovations can transform participant experiences while creating added value for the industry. The fourth topic is talent development and excellence in strategic bidding, which highlights the importance of investing in human resources and strengthening capacity to attract and host more world-class international events. Widiyanti said that Seabef is being held concurrently with the Indonesia Business Events Mart (IBEM). Over its four-day run, IBEM features 98 exhibitors from the MICE and tourism industry, as well as 220 hosted buyers from around the world. Widiyanti expressed hope that IBEM 2026 will be successful and productive, and that the connections made here will lead to meaningful partnerships and open new opportunities for Indonesian tourism. The Southeast Asia Business Events Forum (Seabef) 2026 carries the theme ‘Beyond Business Events: Redefining the Future of Events as a Catalyst for Competitive, Sustainable, and High-Value Tourism Growth’. The event is being held from 28 to 29 July 2026 at the Jakarta International Convention Center (JICC). Seabef is being held concurrently with the Indonesia Business Event Mart (IBEM) 2026, which runs from 28 to 31 July 2026. Both forums aim to reposition events as key drivers of economic value, sustainability, and innovation, as well as to align the event ecosystem in the region. Through this forum, the Ministry of Tourism hopes to create a strategic platform to expand networks and strengthen collaboration between event industry players, both nationally and internationally.