From 2–4 October, Indonesia successfully hosted a major new international B2B tourism event, entitled the Wonderful Indonesia Tourism Fair (WITF). Following the success of its inaugural show in 2024, WITF set to become a mainstay in the annual travel trade events calendar for many years to come.
The show kicked off on Friday in Pantai Indah Kapuk (PIK), an emerging tourism destination in North Jakarta dubbed the “new Jakarta City”. This setting provided a suitably dynamic backdrop for the new event, hosted by Swisshotel Jakarta PIK Avenue.
The event successfully showcased a diverse range of attractions from around Indonesia, including North Sumatra, West Sumatra, South Sumatra, Lampung and Bangka-Belitung, among many others. Around 200 international buyers attended the show, representing organisations based in Asia, Europe, the Middle East, Australia and the US.
Also present were a diverse group of leading Indonesian companies (including Panorama Destination), along with international names such as PT Astra International, Coca Cola Euro Pacific, and United Tractors. Many of the visitors came for the special emphasis on the MICE (Meetings, Incentives, Conferences, and Exhibitions) segment.
WITF 2024 is owned, funded and operated by the Indonesian Tourism Industry Association (GIPI) with support and endorsement from the Ministry of Tourism and Creative Economy (MOTCE). It has been conceived as a premier homegrown event to rival more established international tourism trade fairs like ITB Berlin and WTM London.
The show was first announced during the ASEAN Tourism Forum held in Yogyakarta last year, where government and tourism stakeholders discussed ways for Indonesia to showcase its rich cultural and natural heritage to a more global audience. WITF 2024 is also organised in collaboration with the Southeast Asia Business Event Forum (SEABEFF), a government-sponsored international conference focused on the MICE industry.
Looking to the future, WITF will continue to serve as Indonesia’s flagship B2B travel tradeshow, while SEABEFF will offer a platform for industry professionals to discuss trends and outlooks in the MICE sector, thereby providing a more varied and comprehensive experience for attendees.
