11th Edition of Food, Hotel & Tourism Bali Event Sets to Break International Participation Records Amidst Tourism Upturn

BALI, Indonesia, Feb. 27, 2018 /PRNewswire/ — Reigning as the largest trade event of its kind in East Indonesia, Food, Hotel & Tourism Bali 2018 (FHTBali 2018) returns 1-3 March at the Bali Nusa Dua Convention Centre, Bali, Indonesia. In addition to occupying over 11,203 sqm in space and hosting more than 709 companies from 39 countries, FHTB 2018 organizers also expect the largest international  visitor turnout given the most recent pre-registration figures indicating a 20% increase compared to the last edition. Food, Hotel & Tourism Bali 2018 will also play host to several major industry events including the 2018 Indonesia Coffee Events (ICE) competition which acts as Indonesia’s finalist barista competition before entering into the World Barista Championship (WBC) alongside the 2018 Salon Culinaire Competition, the 2018 Bali Sommelier Competition, and Retail Indonesia 2018.

In the first quarter of 2017 Indonesia recorded a nearly 20% year-on-year increase in foreign visitors compared to its three neighboring countries of Singapore, Malaysia and Thailand for the same period according to the Central Statistics Agency (BPS).  Bali, Indonesia’s continuously growing epic-center for culture, recreation and relaxation, alone recorded foreign tourism numbers jumping 42% in just the last two years and welcoming nearly 5.67 million Bali-enthusiasts in 2017 (source: Bali Provincial Government records).

Indonesia credits its sustainability in meeting the demands of growing tourism due to the country’s equally robust food & beverage and hospitality economics. “In the third quarter last year, the food and beverages industry grew by 9.46 percent year-on-year, overpassing the country’s economy growth. We are confident that the food and beverages industry will grow to more than 8.4 percent in 2018,” said Adhi S. Lukman, chairman of the Indonesian Food and Beverages Association (GAPMMI).

Throughout its 11 years reign, Food, Hotel & Tourism Bali exemplified and continues to embody the spirit of economic and entrepreneurial possibility for domestic and international suppliers of the food, hotel and tourism industry looking break into the growing needs and discerning tastes of club, hotel, and restaurant owners, purchasing managers, as well as tour operators, distributors, retailers and wholesalers. Over 709 companies from 39 countries flock to FHTBali biennially and compete to showcase thousands of products and services ranging from the most decadent of European confectionaries, to the most exotic in gourmet seafoods, to the latest in high-tech catering and packaging equipment, to the chicest in hotel and restaurant furniture and furnishings.

“There are many reasons why Food, Hotel & Tourism Bali has remained so strong year after year,” said Wiwiek Roberto, Project Director of Pamerindo Indonesia and FHTB. “More companies sign up to exhibit each year because these suppliers slowly discover that our event has the highest concentration of professional buyers traveling from across all regions of Indonesia ranging from areas of East Java such as Bali and Sulawesi Selatan to areas such as far away as Nusa Tenggara Barat and Sumatera Utara. These companies know that tourism development is not just concentrated within Bali but across the archipelago and our exhibition’s timing, location, and additional event attractions makes Food, Hotel & Tourism Bali the choice trade fair for professional buyers to  make the trip to see and experience the most  all at once.”