The Bali administration, in conjunction with several private companies in the Indonesian province, has founded the Bali Convention & Exhibition Bureau (BaliCEB) at the end of October.
The independent, non-profit organisation will promote Bali as a MICE destination with the greater aim of bolstering MICE arrivals, as well as help to win bids for large-scale international business events to the island.
Around 50 companies in Bali have signed up as members of BaliCEB, among which are the owners of five convention centres and around 20 hotels equipped with event facilities.
I Ketut Jaman, managing director of Melali MICE – one of the eight initiators of BaliCEB – explained that BaliCEB was created because the local government believed that Bali held great potential to become a world-class business events destination, but it did not have an independent organisation to manage and promote itself. He also clarified that BaliCEB was also not a division within the Bali Tourism Agency.
“We will start promotional activities next year, and we have the intention to participate in MICE tradeshows, such as IMEX Frankfurt and America,” said Ketut.
Other tasks on BaliCEB’s to-do list include recording an inventory of convention centres, hotels with MICE facilities, as well as MICE players from across the island ranging from PCOs to DMCs; and preparing materials for international promotions, such as an official website and guide book.
From 2021, BaliCEB will actively approach its target markets, namely international organisations, corporates and associations, as well as join various bidding events overseas. To this end, Ketut shared that BaliCEB will form a special bidding team filled with professionals experienced in business negotiations.
BaliCEB’s activities will be partly funded by the central and local governments and industries.
“(In November), we held an audience with the Minister of Tourism and Creative Economy Wishnutama Kusubandio, and he (voiced his support) for BaliCEB. But first, we need to formulate activities that BaliCEB will participate in. The allotted fund from the ministry will be determined later,” shared Ketut.
A partnership with the tourism ministry and various tourism promotion boards is also in the works.
On whether the formation of BaliCEB will overlap the role of Indonesia Convention & Exhibition Bureau (INACEB), Ketut said it will not and added: “Instead, BaliCEB and INACEB can support and complement each other.”
This is as INACEB has been tasked with promoting all MICE destinations across Indonesia, which is a large undertaking. BaliCEB therefore, will help relive some of the pressure by promoting Bali at tradeshows overseas.
