The first High-Level Meeting of the Archipelagic and Island States (AIS) Forum on October 10-11 in Bali had a positive impact on the region’s Tourism, Tourism and Creative Economy Minister Sandiaga Uno stated.

“It was mainly seen from an increase in hotel occupancy rates in Nusa Dua and the surrounding area,” he noted in a statement on Thursday.

Based on his projection, the impact of the international meeting, which invited participation from 51 island and archipelagic countries throughout the world, could reach US$1.5-2 million.

This figure is calculated from the estimated average amount spent by foreign tourists per visit of US$1,500.

This MICE (meeting, incentive, convention, and exhibition) involved the participation of more than 50 countries with a total of 1,000 people. The impact is significant (for tourism), Uno remarked.

Apart from accommodation facilities, he highlighted that the impact of the event also reached micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs).

The minister cited as an example that a high-ranking official from Papua New Guinea had even bought a painting from a Balinese artist for US$15 thousand.

This shows that the spending quality from participants is quite high. It can have a significant impact on the local economy, he remarked.

He noted that the 1st HLM of the Ais Forum also opened up opportunities for investment in Indonesian tourism, especially for sustainable tourism, as the activity had many various side events attended by investors.

The minister stated that the investment needed to support sustainable tourism globally is around US$100 billion. Indonesia is targeting an investment value of US$6-8 billion in sustainable tourism.

“Above all that, with the AIS Forum, we want to realize a blue economy and the readiness of the tourism sector to face the threat of climate change,” he revealed.

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