JAKARTA, RAKYAT NEWS– Iqbal Alan Abdullah, Chairman of the Indonesia Congress and Convention Association (INCCA), has expressed confidence that the new administration under President-elect Prabowo Subianto will build upon the achievements of President Joko Widodo in advancing Indonesia’s meeting, incentive, conference, and exhibition (MICE) industry.

In a press statement, Iqbal highlighted that the current global economic stability and the smooth transition of leadership are creating a favorable environment for the growth of the MICE sector. “We are optimistic that Indonesia will increasingly be recognized as a top MICE destination in Asia-Pacific and globally,” he said in Jakarta

Iqbal further noted that the positive trends in the global economy, combined with high economic growth expectations in Indonesia, will significantly boost the MICE and event sectors, including music and sports. He believes that with political and economic stability, the industry will experience substantial growth, exceeding the average rate of 7.4 percent projected for Asia-Pacific.

According to data from the Ministry of Tourism and Creative Economy, MICE tourism grew by 12-15 percent in 2023 and is expected to rise to 20 percent in 2024. Iqbal hopes this growth will continue under President Prabowo’s leadership, with targets set between 15-20 percent.

One factor supporting this optimism is Indonesia’s success in attracting major events during President Jokowi’s administration. “I am confident that the new government will be able to bring even more significant events to Indonesia,” said Iqbal.

He also commended the achievements in the MICE sector during Jokowi’s presidency and hopes the new administration will continue and expand upon these successes. However, he emphasized the importance of providing incentives to event organizers, such as tax breaks, access to credit, and direct incentives, to enhance Indonesia’s appeal as a MICE destination.

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