Indonesia’s business events industry is reporting thinner event pipelines as companies postpone events and tighten spending amid a weaker rupiah and geopolitical uncertainty.
The rupiah has weakened in recent weeks, hovering near historic lows against the US dollar, while geopolitical tensions have added pressure on business sentiment.
Irvan Muhidin Sukamto, CEO of Gemalindo Kreasi Indonesia, said the slowdown is most visible in the corporate events segment.
“Many companies are in survival mode. Spending is no longer as aggressive as before, particularly among multinational corporations,” he explained.
Irvan added that many events are now being postponed to later in the year or next year as clients reassess budgets, and current demand is shifting toward smaller-scale activities. While events are still happening, corporate clients are becoming far more selective and careful with their spending.
With travel budgets under scrutiny, companies are also rethinking where they hold events.
“Clients are becoming sensitive to distance. If possible, they prefer destinations reachable by car or train,” said Harry Dwi Nugraha, chief executive of Ego Global Asia.
Cities such as Anyer, Bogor, Bandung, and Yogyakarta are rising in preference, along with other destinations that can be reached by car, bus, or train as companies seek to minimise transport costs.
The conference sector is facing similar challenges. Bali-based PCO Aldabra Project has seen several events from China cancelled in recent months, while domestic clients are taking a more cautious approach as travel costs rise. Its director of operations, Budi Darmawan, told TTGmice that event volume has fallen by around 50 percent compared with the previous year.
“Many clients in sectors such as banking, energy, and capital markets are putting conference and seminar plans on hold while they assess market conditions,” he shared.
The exhibition segment has proven more resilient, although organisers are seeing signs of caution among both exhibitors and buyers.
Yudha Imam Sutedja, managing director of Okta Sejahtera Insani and chairman of the Indonesia Exhibition Companies Association’s Jakarta chapter, said that many exhibitors are reducing booth sizes, while some companies are delaying participation decisions. Delegation sizes have also seen a reduction.
Another concern is that transactions at exhibitions are slowing as buyers hold back on deals. “People are still coming, mostly to network, but they tend to hold off on business dealings because they are waiting for the dollar to come down,” Yudha said.
To tide over this period, Irvan advised organisers to be more agile in helping clients balance budgets without sacrificing objectives, whether through shorter programmes, alternative destinations, or more focused event formats.
“The show must go on. If events stop, the impact will be even greater,” Yudha said.
He previously held senior leadership roles with The Star Entertainment Group, Accor and Mirvac Hotels & Resorts.
