Indonesia set to host PATA Travel Mart 2016 at ICE BSD in Banten province

Indonesia is set to host the prestigious PATA (Pacific Asia Travel Association) Travel Mart 2016 at its newest Convention Hall, the Indonesia Convention and Exhibition (ICE) hall at Bumi Serpong Damai  (popularly known as BSD), located in the Banten Province,  to be held from 7-9 September 2016.  The event is fully supported by the Ministry of Tourism of Indonesia. BSD is one of many satellite cities around Jakarta, capital of Indonesia,  and is within an  hour’s ride from Central Jakarta by toll road.   

This is the fourth time that Indonesia has hosted PTM , the three earlier ones were all  held in Bali. Therefore,  this is the first time that PTM in Indonesia is staged in the province of Banten, on the outskirts of Jakarta.   Recognized  as the  fifth  best tourism industry show in the world, PTM pioneered  the pre- scheduled computerized appointments contract show in the Tourism Industry for  Buyers to meet and discuss business with Sellers. PTM is a business contract B2B show  exclusive among its PATA membership and is, for this reason, not open to the public.  

PTM  also offers pre and post convention tours for delegates. There is a half-day tour to Taman Mini Indonesia in Jakarta,  and tours  to Mt. Kelimutu and Labuan Bajo on Flores to get close to the Komodo dragons. Other tours include a trip to the beautiful Toraja Highlands in South Sulawesi or a trip closer to Banten to Tanjung Lesung Beach to watch the once mighty Mt. Krakatau.

Expected to be attended by  1,000 delegates, to date (10 August 2016), already 242 Buyers from 25 countries have registered for PTM Indonesia;  with 226 Sellers from 28 countries, and 42 media from 14 countries as well as 12 bloggers.  Indonesia, as host country will field 50 Seller Organizations.

The largest number of Buyers to date are from the Asia Pacific Area  (32%) that include Buyers from China, Japan, South Korea, Taiwan; from  Europe (25%) among whom are from Germany, France, the Netherlands, Spain, Italy; followed by the ASEAN countries (22%), the Americas 10% - including the USA, Canada and Brazil;  Russia, Kazakstan 8%,and the Middle East (UAE, and more) 3%, reported Ika Nazarudin, Project Manager of PTM 2016, Pacto Convex at the press conference held at the Ministry of Tourism on Thursday, 11 August.    

The entire event will take place in Halls 5 and 6 of ICE, occupying a total area of 450 square meters.

Although a newly built city, only started in 1984,  BSD city and surroundings already have  a number of comfortable  four star business hotels with the Santika Premiere Hotel  being within walking distance from ICE. Near the convention hall itself is the Aeon Mall filled with many Japanese restaurants.  A little further off are the official  hotels at Alam Sutera that include Mercure Alam Sutera, Santika Hotel, Grand Zuri, and more. These are the official hotels for PTM.  Nearby you will also find the large Alam Sutera Mall and the first extensive and popular IKEA outlet in Indonesia.     

Alam Sutera is popular for its galore of restaurants in malls. There is even an entire restaurant complex called “Flavor Bliss”.  In your spare time try out the many restaurants here, with most popular being the Bandar Jakarta, where  you can tuck into the freshest Seafood, fried or grilled fish, prawns, scallops, crabs, all covered in unforgettable spicy sauces. There are also a number of good Chinese restaurants and cafes. 

ICE is a huge complex for exhibitions, and has already hosted many international singing stars like Kathy Perry, who performed to packed crowds.  ICE is definitely  a welcome addition to Jakarta’s  already   year-round full house convention and  exhbition halls at the Jakarta’s International Convention Hall  at Senayan  as well as the JIExpo at Kemayoran.

BSD is one of Jakarta’s many satellite cities which is located in the adjoining province of Banten in the sub-district of Serpong, west of Jakarta.  Dubbed as one of the best laid-out  new cities, BSD has quickly grown into a beautiful suburb  almost inseparable from the megapolitan city of Jakarta.  Here you will find wide shady boulevards with large housing estates on both sides of the road. The city  also boasts some of the best universities and top schools.   

 Located close to the Soekarno-Hatta International Airport,  BSD and its adjoining suburbs of Alam Sutera and Serpong city are connected to Central Jakarta by toll road.  

Together the three now form almost one city by itself .

For more information on ICE log on to : ice-indonesia.com

For details on PTM 2016, log on to: www.pata.org/portfolio/ptm-2016.