MICE Predicted to Contribute 7% to Number of Foreign Arrivals

Badung (Antara Bali) - The Tourism Ministry predicted that Meetings, Incentives, Conferences and Events (MICE) would contribute 5 to 7 percent to the total number of foreign tourist arrivals in Indonesia in 2016.

The governments target for the number of foreign tourist arrivals in the country is set at 12 million this year.

Assistant Deputy of Development of Asia Pacific Market of the Tourism Ministry Vinsensius Jemadu said the target is relatively low as the MICE tourism facilities are still not sufficiently available in the country.

"The target is not too high as MICE facilities are found only in certain areas. MICE facilities are available only in Bali, Jakarta and Bandung," Vinsensius said in this Bali mountain city.

He was in Bali to prepare the 10th Conference of Asia Pacific Orthodontists (APOC) and the 11st annual meeting of the Indonesian Association of Orthodontists in Bali in September 1-3 this year.

He said starting this year, the government would be more aggressive in exploiting the potentials of MICE tourism.

So far the country has not been serious in seeking to tap the MICE tourism potentials, whereas MICE tourists are bigger spenders compared with holiday makers, he said.

MICE tourists are generally well educated people, and stay in more expensive hotels.

In a bid to draw more MICE tourists, the country has to be able to host more international events.

"The tourism Ministry will cooperate with other ministries or agencies in seeking to make Indonesia selected to host of more international events," Vinsensius said.

He said MICE tourists should be given special treatment such as by giving special lane at airports that they would not need to queue too long at immigration gate.

The government has set target for reign tourist arrivals at 20 million in 2019 and MICE visitors are expected to make up 20 percent of the total number.

The Tourism Ministry gave support for the 10th Conference of Asia Pacific Orthodontists (APOC) and 11st annual meeting of the Indonesian Association of Orthodontists in Bali in the form of dinner party with all participants receiving "udeng", Bali head band.

At the dinner attended by around 900 dentists from Asia Pacific countries, the Tourism Ministry presented a number of Indonesian tourism objects and destinations with their natural beauty and riches.

According to the Tourism Ministry, Indonesia was ranked only the 42nd MICE destination in the world in 2014 hosting 76 international meetings.

The number was small compared to 142 meetings hosted by Singapore, which was ranked the 29th , and 133 meetings hosted by Malaysia which was ranked the 30th and 118 meetings in Thailand, which was ranked the 33rd. (WDY)