JAKARTA, Indonesia – Travel Meet Asia (TMA) 2026 concluded in Jakarta with a notable expansion in scale and regional influence, underscoring Southeast Asia’s continued emergence as one of the world’s most dynamic travel markets. Held on 23–24 June at Swissôtel Jakarta PIK Avenue, the business-to-business travel exhibition attracted more than 1,500 industry professionals, 500 hosted buyers, over 100 exhibitors from 16 countries, and approximately 60 industry speakers, marking a 30 percent increase in participation compared with the previous edition.
Organized by Messe Berlin Asia Pacific in partnership with ITB Asia and the Association of the Indonesian Tours and Travel Agencies (ASITA), the event reinforced its role as a strategic marketplace connecting tourism boards, airlines, hotel groups, destination management companies, travel technology providers, and corporate travel buyers across Asia-Pacific.
Business Meetings Drive Commercial Opportunities
Unlike consumer travel exhibitions, Travel Meet Asia focused on delivering measurable business outcomes through pre-scheduled one-to-one meetings between international buyers and suppliers. Delegates representing the leisure, MICE, and corporate travel sectors participated in intensive networking sessions designed to generate new commercial partnerships, expand distribution channels, and strengthen regional tourism cooperation.
The event also showcased destinations and tourism suppliers from Asia, Europe, Africa and the Middle East, highlighting the growing international interest in Southeast Asia as both a source market and an investment destination.
Indonesia Positions Tourism as an Economic Growth Engine
Indonesian Tourism Minister Widiyanti Putri Wardhana used the event to emphasize tourism’s expanding role in economic development, investment and regional integration. She described Travel Meet Asia as more than a trade exhibition, calling it “a platform to build partnerships, exchange ideas and shape the future of tourism.”
According to the Ministry of Tourism, Indonesia welcomed a 10.8 percent increase in international visitor arrivals in 2025, outperforming the global tourism growth rate. The sector generated approximately US$18.27 billion in foreign exchange earnings while supporting nearly 26 million jobs, reinforcing tourism’s importance as a pillar of the national economy.
Industry Focus Shifts Toward Technology and Sustainability
Conference sessions throughout the two-day event reflected the travel industry’s evolving priorities, with discussions centered on:
- Artificial intelligence and digital transformation
- Sustainable tourism development
- Destination marketing
- Travel technology innovation
- Corporate and MICE travel recovery
- Regional connectivity across Asia-Pacific
Industry leaders broadly agreed that future competitiveness will depend increasingly on technology adoption, environmental responsibility, and stronger public-private collaboration.
Regional Collaboration Gains Momentum
One of the event’s most visible symbols of regional cooperation was Brunei Darussalam’s participation as the Official Partner Country, using the platform to introduce its Visit Brunei 2027 tourism campaign. The initiative reflected a broader trend among Southeast Asian destinations to pursue joint marketing efforts and regional tourism partnerships rather than competing independently.
Market Response
Industry reaction following the exhibition has been largely positive. Organizers described the event as evidence of growing business confidence across Asia’s travel sector, while exhibitors highlighted the value of targeted buyer appointments over large-scale public exhibitions. The 30 percent growth in participation, together with expanded exhibition space and strong international representation, suggests increasing demand for specialized B2B platforms that facilitate high-quality commercial engagement rather than volume-driven attendance.
Outlook
As international tourism continues its post-pandemic expansion, Travel Meet Asia has strengthened its position as one of Southeast Asia’s leading travel trade platforms. The 2026 edition demonstrated that regional tourism is entering a new phase—one defined less by recovery than by strategic growth, investment, innovation, and cross-border collaboration. For Indonesia, the event further reinforced Jakarta’s ambitions to serve as a central gateway for tourism business across the Asia-Pacific region.