Jakarta optimism as meetings return

By Olivia Toth Bangkok Indonesia appears to be reinstating itself on the region's tourism map, with a 30 per cent upsurge in tourism arrivals from January to September this year, according to deputy minister of culture and tourism Udin Saifuddin. At last month's IT&CMA and Corporate Travel World trade show 'double bill', Saifuddin addressed media with an upbeat message, noting that the archipelago's 5.2 million arrivals in 2004 were forecast to climb to between 5.6 and 5.8 millon in the coming year. "Arrivals to Bali have increased dramatically to 1,200 per day and we expect this to increase by 30 per cent in 2005," he noted, adding. "Overall, (the increase in arrivals) is showing that the market in Indonesia is more conducive to tourism development." According to Jakarta Convention Bureau executive director Indra Sukirno, 80 per cent of Indonesia's inbound arrivals hit Jakarta, which is attracting global association meetings again after a six-year hiatus. "This year, Jakarta won its first association meeting since 1998 — there had been no international association meetings up until this point," she said. The city recently clinched the bid to host a global medical association meeting in 2005. "We have two conferences booked for 2005, with 800 and 500 delegates and more are at the final decision-making stage for 2006," Sukirno added.