ENTERING its sixth edition this year, the Indonesia Corporate Meeting & Incentive Travel Mart (ICMITM) has helped to introduce new cities in the country as MICE destinations.
Currently taking place in Semarang, Central Java from May 1-4, it is jointly organised by the Ministry of Tourism and Creative Economy with Bank Danamon American Express (AMEX) Corporate Card. This year’s ICMITM brings together 80 Bank Danamon AMEX corporate card members and 101 Indonesian MICE suppliers.
Indonesia Ministry of Tourism and Creative Economy director general of tourism markering, Esthy Reko Astuty, said: “The event is aimed at promoting the host city as a MICE destination. Central Java, in particular Semarang, was chosen as it is one of our focus destinations for MICE (during Visit Central Java Year 2013).”
Bank Danamon AMEX’s executive vice president – card business head, Dessy Masri, also concurred that the ICMITM has achieved its goal of introducing new MICE destinations to her clients based on the past five corporate travel marts.
She said: “Following the ICMITM in Medan in May last year (TTG Asia e-Daily, May 10, 2012), spending on MICE- and travel-related events grew by 20 per cent between May and December last year.
“Our clients may know Medan or Semarang, but may not know what facilities and attractions these cities have for MICE until they talk to the suppliers and see for themselves when they come here. They get various choices of destinations, products and special offers from suppliers to plan their events.”
“Travel and MICE comprise 60 per cent of Danamon AMEX corporate card spending, which totalled Rp1.3 trillion (US$133 million) last year,” revealed Dessy, who expected this segment to grow by at least 20 per cent this year amid a booming Indonesian economy.
ICMITM 2013 is expected to rake in transaction amounts of at least Rp540 billion this year, or 20 per cent higher than last year’s Rp450 billion.
