UFI, the Global Association of the Exhibition Industry, has has selected Bali, Indonesia, as the host of the UFI Asia Pacific Conference 2027, following a successful bid led by the IECA, the Indonesia Exhibition Companies Association.
The announcement followed the conclusion of this year’s conference in Bangkok, which brought more than 260 industry leaders to the Thai capital.
This is the second time Indonesia will be hosting the event, after Jakarta first hosted it in 2013.
Set to take place at Bali Nusa Dua Convention Center (BNDCC) at the end of March, the event is expected to draw up to 300 delegates. It will feature expert panels and keynote sessions by exhibition industry leaders, focusing on key trends and opportunities across the Asia-Pacific region.
With Bali long established as Indonesia’s premier destination for conferences and incentive travel, IECA is expected to leverage Indonesia’s global profile among players in the exhibition industry.
Hosea Andreas Runkat, chairperson of IECA, said it has been a “long and winding road” to getting UFI to hold the APAC Conference in Bali, but they have finally succeeded.
He also pointed out the broader impact of the conference: “Hosting this conference goes beyond the immediate economic benefits. It’s significant not just for Bali, but for the Indonesia business events industry as a whole.”
The 2027 conference is also set to adopt a net zero approach. “We’re putting this into practice. It’s a small step, but it’s our way to showing that Bali can host big events in a sustainable way,” said Andreas
Looking ahead, Andreas hopes that Indonesia could host the UFI World Congress in 2030 or 2032. With an even larger international audience, the World Congress will bring a bigger economic boost and cement the country’s standing on the global MICE stage.
