Whenever MICE in Southeast Asia comes up, the biggest players in the game are Singapore and Thailand, both of which have a solid reputation for hosting global-level events in some of the world’s most expansive and technologically advanced venues.
But perhaps it’s time for those countries to be on the lookout for some new competition as Indonesia is making significant improvements that could propel its MICE sector to the regional forefront.
According to a 2025 report from Vietnamese travel agency Trusted DMC, Indonesia is currently riding high on the crest of the bleisure wave, citing a significant increase in inbound arrivals coming in for industry events, then staying a little longer to enjoy what the country has to offer.
The capital is the epicentre of this trend; as the report states: “Jakarta, in particular, is increasingly recognised as a major driver of regional tourism growth, fuelled by the vibrancy of its MICE industry. The Ministry of Tourism and Creative Economy plays a key role in the national economic recovery. Natural resources, cultural heritage, and diverse destinations are major assets. Indonesia is investing in its tourism infrastructure, with luxury hotels and modern convention centres.”
Getting ahead in the game with IBEM and SEABEF
It should be stated at this point that the country is banking on the upcoming Indonesia Business Event Mart (IBEM) to take it to the next level as a preferred regional destination for MICE.
This inaugural event will be staged at the Jakarta International Convention Centre from 28th to 31st July alongside the Southeast Asia Business Events Forum (SEABEF).
These joint events seek to boost Indonesia’s position as an emerging hub for MICE within the region, showcasing business meetings, networking opportunities, educational discussions, destination showcases, and hosted buyer programmes.
Both IBEM and SEABEF are designed to create meaningful business connections and long-term partnerships across the travel and events industry.
For both regional and global MICE professionals, the joint event also raises Jakarta’s appeal for both business events and incentive trips.
Indeed, the event seeks to help professionals understand the city better, enabling them to build better proposal packages for clients and partners.
What Indonesia has going for it in terms of MICE
Geographically, Indonesia sits right at the centre of Southeast Asia: putting it within close proximity to major regional corporate hubs like Bangkok, Kuala Lumpur, Manila, and Singapore who can fly in within a window of two to five hours.
At the same time, the country has been ramping up its infrastructure since it hosted the Asian Games in Palembang in 2017.
At the time, the Indonesian government spent around US$2.4 billion on infrastructural development, including the Palembang light rail transit (LRT) which connected the Sultan Mahmud Badaruddin II International Airport to the Jakabaring Stadium complex, as well as the renovation of Jakarta’s Gelora Bung Karno Stadium.
In the years that have followed, the country has also built the Jakarta International Expo (JIExpo), the Indonesia Convention Exhibition (ICE) in BSD City, as well as a number of key MICE venues in Bali.
This drive for tourism and MICE centric infrastructure also speaks of the Indonesian government’s support for the sectors which is key, given the way these sectors remain strong pillars of the national economy.
