Sri Lanka Convention Bureau joins with business chambers and associations to resume MICE tourism

Sri Lanka Tourism Chairperson Kimarli Fernando

Sri Lanka Convention Bureau (SLCB) is a State institute under the Ministry of Tourism with the prime objective of promoting Sri Lanka as a venue for MICE (Meetings, Incentives, Conferences, Exhibitions and Events) activities.

SLCB has planned a series of educational seminars and workshops to create awareness among industry members, diplomats, airlines, associations, chambers, and academics in promoting Sri Lanka as a venue for MICE activities. The Second Chairperson’s Forum on MICE was successfully held on 18 August as a fully virtual event. The event was organised by the Sri Lanka Convention Bureau (SLCB) in collaboration with the Sri Lanka Association of Professional Conference, Exhibition & Event Organisers (SLAPCEO). 

The forum titled ‘Role of business chambers and associations to develop MICE business in Sri Lanka’, focused to create awareness among participated organisations to promote Sri Lanka as a MICE destination for Meetings, Incentives, Conferences, Exhibitions and Business Events, to build relationships to bid for regional and international MICE events, to obtain support to reach regional and international networks of business chambers and associations to attract events to Sri Lanka

Sri Lanka Tourism Chairperson Kimarli Fernando educated the audience on how to ‘Re-Discover Sri Lanka with MICE; Business Events’. Fernando further mentioned that MICE is the Voice of Sri Lanka as it has a tremendous potential to bring in foreign exchange to the country. She requested the industry members to join hands with the associations and the business chambers in Sri Lanka to tap the Association Meetings market and the other MICE events to Sri Lanka. 

This forum also included an Experience Sharing session on ‘Bidding and winning a world congress to Sri Lanka’ conducted by Dr. Suresh Shanmuganathan, Past President, Sri Lanka Dental Association and Conference Chair, 42nd Asia Pacific Dental Congress. Ceylon Chamber of Commerce Secretary General and CEO Manjula De Silva spoke on how Chambers could assist to attract business events to Sri Lanka. SLAPCEO President Imran Hassan spoke on World of MICE; Business Events and how SLAPCEO members can support Business Chambers and Associations to attract more MICE business to Sri Lanka in partnership with Sri Lanka Convention Bureau and Sri Lanka Tourism.

National carrier SriLankan Airlines was represented by Head of Worldwide Sales and Distribution Dimuthu Tennakoon and he educated the audience on the assistance SriLankan Airlines offers to business events from bidding and lobbying stages to when delegates arrive to Sri Lanka for the actual event to take part. SLCB General Manager Krishantha Fernando also spoke on SLCB’s event support scheme. 

The forum in progress via Zoom