Striving to become a global economic and business hub, Jakarta declares an ambitious vision encapsulated in its tourism tagline Jakarta Heart of MICE, signifying its commitment to excelling as a prime destination for business events.
This comes as Jakarta’s current 10.5 million population is projected to reach 100 million by 2045, part of the Golden Indonesia 2045 vision. The Golden Indonesia 2045 vision is a commitment to create a prosperous and vibrant nation, encompassing various facets of development, including economic growth, education, and social well-being.
Jakarta’s journey towards achieving its goals has entered a transformative phase marked by significant developments in infrastructure and facilities.
For instance, toll roads in and around the city have undergone extensive expansion. The KRL (electric train) network has seen improvements, the Mass Rapid Transit (MRT) system is undergoing expansion, and a Light Rail Transit system was recently launched to enhance daily connectivity for the population.
Intercity access has also improved, with new classes of trains establishing connections between Jakarta and various cities across Java. The latest addition, Whoosh, Indonesia’s first bullet train, operates at a speed of 350kmh between Jakarta and Bandung. There are plans to extend its route to Surabaya.
Simultaneously, Soekarno-Hatta International Airport stands as one of the busiest airports globally, serving as the primary entry point to Indonesia.
In the last couple of years, hotels such as The Langham Jakarta, Park Hyatt Jakarta, and St Regis Jakarta have come online. According to Colliers Indonesia, seven more hotels will open this and next year, such as the Movenpick Jakarta Pecenongan, Fairfield by Marriott Slipi, and ParkRoyal Jakarta.
As for large event spaces, the Jakarta International Stadium opened in 2022 with a capacity for 82,000 spectators; while the Jakarta Convention Centre was renovated in 2023 and now boasts new shopping, dining, and entertainment facilities.
Development has also taken place at Pantai Indah Kapuk (PIK), a scenic coastal location along Jakarta Bay. The upscale residential and shopping area is a 10-minute drive from Soekarno-Hatta International Airport, and there are plans to build a convention centre and concert hall in the vicinity.
With so much happening and the 2045 goal in mind, Jakarta’s business events stakeholders are confident that the sector has a bright future ahead.
Wisnu Budi Sulaeman, head of permanent committee on MICE at the Indonesia Chamber of Commerce, said: “Jakarta is a business city. Events – be it business or special events – offer the biggest growth potential for Jakarta moving forward.”
Carlos Monterde, chairman of The Jakarta Hotel Association, and general manager of Fairmont Hotel Jakarta, added: “The ongoing infrastructure and facility developments in Jakarta have significantly elevated its appeal as a business events destination. With a population of over 10 million people and counting, Jakarta holds a significant potential market for MICE business, as there is a considerable pool of potential attendees and customers.”
Samit Ganguly, general manager of The Westin Jakarta, opined: “The city is evolving into an even more enticing destination for hosting major MICE events. The enhanced nightlife further adds to Jakarta’s allure.”
Industry players also stressed the importance of marketing and promoting the city as a business events destination early, especially with the movement of the capital city to Ibukota Nusantara in Kalimantan; the move is slated for August 2024.
To do so, Monterde called for the city to set up a destination marketing body, as well as a unified campaign across all sectors.
Ganguly opined: “The relocation of the National Capital Region presents an auspicious juncture, akin to the transformative dynamics observed in Istanbul and Ankara or Delhi and Gurugram. I firmly believe that Jakarta is poised to ascend as a formidable commercial nucleus among ASEAN nations, leveraging the void anticipated from the governmental shift as an enticing prospect for multinational corporations.
“This impending vacuum in administrative quarters becomes an unprecedented opportunity for global corporations to step in, filling the void and contributing to Jakarta’s economic vitality. As a consequence, the city is likely to attract a surge in MICE events, both on a national and international scale,” he added.
Wisnu said: “I think Jakarta will remain a business hub, and as the (biggest) entry point to Indonesia, large-scale national and international business events will remain here. I also think big government events like summits and conventions cannot be held (in the new capital), not in under a decade.
“Developing a new MICE city is not easy, and the required facility like an international airport has not been constructed yet.”
Editor’s note: Wisnu Budi Sulaeman, head of permanent committee on MICE at the Indonesia Chamber of Commerce, passed away on March 7, 2024.
He brings nearly 40 years of global aviation experience to the role, and was Jetstar Japan’s executive chairman prior to joining Qantas.
He will also steer the development and implementation of new technologies to enhance guest experiences and streamline business activities across the group’s portfolio of hotels and resorts.
The Lufthansa Group’s Green Fares has been well received since it was launched a year ago – with more than one million passengers opting for the new fare – and demand continues to rise steadily in all booking classes, underlining the success of this sustainable option.
Available with Lufthansa, Austrian Airlines, Brussels Airlines, SWISS, Edelweiss, Discover Airlines and Air Dolomiti on more than 730,000 flights per year within Europe and to Morocco, Algeria and Tunisia, the Lufthansa Group has also been testing Green Fares on selected longhaul routes since November 2023.
In the first year, an average of three per cent of passengers have used the offer, making an important contribution to more sustainable travel. In Business Class, Green Fares tickets are already selected for eleven per cent of bookings via the Lufthansa Group portals.
Green Fares are particularly popular on routes such as Hamburg-Munich, Zurich-London and Frankfurt-Berlin. In total, travellers have offset more than 77,000 tonnes of CO2 since the launch of Green Fares by offsetting their flight-related CO2 emissions.
Green Fares includes the full offsetting of individual, flight-related CO2 emissions by sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) as well as a contribution to high-quality climate protection projects. With SAF, a reduction of 20 per cent of CO2 emissions is achieved, while the remaining 80 per cent is compensated by climate protection projects. The Lufthansa Group ensures that the amount of SAF required for offsetting is fed into the airport infrastructure within six months of purchase.
The Lufthansa Group’s CO2 compensation portfolio currently comprises 15 projects, including two technology-based projects.
Currently, around four per cent of Lufthansa Group passengers use one of the various offers for more sustainable flying. Passengers can either select a special fare such as the Green Fares, or individually tailored offers with a higher proportion of SAF during the booking process. They can also offset flight-related CO2 emissions during or after the flight.
In addition to private customers, more corporate customers are also using one of the Lufthansa Group’s offers for more sustainable flying – in 2023, more than 1,500 companies worldwide invested in SAF with the Lufthansa Group.
The Lufthansa Group has set itself ambitious climate protection goals and aims to achieve a neutral CO2 balance by 2050, halving its net CO2 emissions by 2030. As the first airline group in Europe with a science-based CO2 reduction target in line with the goals of the 2015 Paris Climate Agreement, the group is focusing on accelerated fleet modernisation, the continuous optimisation of flight operations, the use of SAF and offers for its private travellers and corporate customers to make air travel more sustainable.