THE CITY of Manado in North Sulawesi is gearing up for its hosting of the ASEAN Tourism Forum (ATF) in January 2012 with the development of a new exhibition hall and a line-up of B2B travel events this year.
A new hall is under construction within the Grand Kawanua International City (GKIC), near the Novotel Manado Golf Resort and Convention Centre, where the ASEAN ministerial meetings will be held.
The 10,000m² venue will be able to accommodate 500 booths, and works are scheduled to finish in November, according to Widijanto, managing director of Wenang Permai Sentosa, which owns GKIC. The total investment is 100 billion rupiah (US$11.1 million).
North Sulawesi Regional Tourism Office director Haerfrey Sendoh said: “As far as the facilities are concerned, the Travex venue is the only addition we need to fulfil. Other requirements such as accommodation and buses are already there.”
Two “warm-up” events – the Indonesia MICE and Corporate Travel Mart and the Tourism Indonesia Mart and Expo – will also be held in Manado this May and October respectively.
