(Jakarta, 23/07) The MICE (Meeting, Incentive, Convention, and Exhibition) Study Program – Politeknik Negeri Jakarta (PNJ) successfully held the 2nd International Scientific Conference of MICE (ISCOMICE) in 2024, themed “Accelerate The Growth of Quality Tourism Through The MICE Industry” at Menara 165, South Jakarta, on Tuesday (23/7).

The 2nd ISCOMICE was opened by the Director of Politeknik Negeri Jakarta (PNJ), Dr. Syamsurizal, SE.MM, who emphasized the importance of discussing the progress of the tourism industry’s growth from the perspectives of the government and academia.

Among the attendees of the 2nd ISCOMICE were the Head of the Business Administration Department-PNJ, Dr. Dra. Iis Mariam, MSi; and several expert speakers, including: the Director of Strategic Planning of the Ministry of Tourism and Creative Economy, Agustini Rahayu, ST.MSi; the Director of the Labuan Bajo Flores Authority Implementation Agency (BPOLBF), Dr. Fransiskus Xaverius Teguh, MA; the Director of Partnership and Events at Bali International Polytechnic, Made Herry Erika, A.Md, SE, M.Tr.Par, MSc; Professor of Tourism Management at Edith Cowan University & University of The Sunshine Coast, Australia, Dr. Noel Scott; and Associate Professor at the School of Hospitality, Tourism & Events and Director of the Sustainable Tourism Impact Lab at Taylor’s University, Malaysia, Dr. Kandappan Balasubramanian.

In her remarks, Head of the Business Administration Department-PNJ, Dr. Dra. Iis Mariam, MSi, explained that the goal of the 2nd ISCOMICE is to provide a discussion platform for stakeholders in the MICE and tourism industry in facing the growth and development of the tourism industry at the regional and international levels.

The event opened with the traditional Kinang Kilaras dance from the Pankreas- PNJ student organization. The event was divided into two plenary sessions, followed by awards for the best papers and presenters at the 2nd ISCOMICE Conference.

First Plenary Session

The first plenary session featured two expert speakers and was moderated by Senior Lecturer of the Business Administration Department-PNJ, Rimsky Kartika Judisseno, SE. MM. Ph.D.

The first speaker was the Director of Strategic Planning of the Ministry of Tourism and Creative Economy, Agustini Rahayu S.T., M.Si, who discussed the topic “The Ministry’s Viewpoint as a Stakeholder, in The Context of Accelerating The Growth of Quality Tourism Through The MICE Industry”. According to Agustini, “MICE events are crucial as they impact the economy. Holding MICE events in a region can stimulate economic activity and contribute to the overall growth and competitiveness of the host destination.”

The second speaker was the Director of the Labuan Bajo Flores Authority Implementation Agency (BPOLBF), Dr. Fransiskus Xaverius Teguh. MA, who delivered his presentation via Zoom on the topic “The Authority Implementation Agency’s Viewpoint as a Stakeholder, in the Context of Accelerating the Growth of Quality Tourism”. According to Fransiskus, “It is essential to focus on the quality of tourists by strategically organizing MICE events. We need more new skills and human resources for tourism,” he stated.

Second Plenary Session

The second plenary session featured three expert speakers and was moderated by the Director of Partnership and Events at Bali International Polytechnic, Made Herry Erika, A.Md, SE, M.Tr.Par, MSc.

The first speaker was Professor of Tourism Management at Edith Cowan University & University of The Sunshine Coast Australia, Dr. Noel Scott, who discussed the topic “Academician Viewpoint in the Context of Accelerating the Growth of Quality Tourism Through the MICE Industry”. According to Scott, “We need awareness of our tourism’s uniqueness and facilities. Tourism in Indonesia is good but still needs more support. It is important to develop the tourism market by focusing on sustainable, environmentally friendly travel, preserving local culture, and providing economic benefits to local communities.”

The second speaker was Associate Professor at the School of Hospitality, Tourism & Events and Director of the Sustainable Tourism Impact Lab at Taylor’s University, Malaysia, Dr. Kandappan Balasubramanian. He emphasized, “Good communication is crucial as it creates great opportunities for collaboration with MICE practitioners. The advantages of MICE can attract more business opportunities. Therefore, we need to manage social media to create a positive image of a MICE destination.”

The third speaker was Principal Researcher at the MICE Center PNJ, Imam Syafganti, S.Sos, MSi, PhD, who explained that “International tourists are very interested in local life, and the quality of tourism impacts the local community. To improve tourism quality, the MICE industry must hold international events to increase visibility, improve infrastructure, and provide the necessary information.”

Awarding Ceremony

The 2nd ISCOMICE was attended by 54 paper presenters whose papers will be published in SINTA 2,3,4, and 5 indexed journals, as well as Web of Science-indexed proceedings.

The Best Paper Awardees were:

1. Egabetha Amirah Yudhaputri for “The Influence of Heuristics & Herding Bias on Investment”
2. Nanda Putri Santoso for “Event Operation and Management; Risk Assessment for Outdoor Food Bazaar Event”
3. Muhammad for “Sustainable Tourism Observatories Framework at KSPN (National Tourism Strategic Area Development) in Indonesia”

The Best Presenter Awardees were:

1. Hilya Akmalyanda
2. Nurhayati Ambarwati Dwi Hastuti
3. Zahra Afrilia Permana

It is hoped that the 2nd INTERNATIONAL SCIENTIFIC CONFERENCE OF MICE (ISCOMICE) 2024 will provide a platform to discuss the progress of the tourism industry’s growth from the perspectives of the government and academia and serve as a venue for academics to publish their articles.

2nd ISCOMICE PR Committee

Risqa Adelia

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