Sri Lanka to generate more MICE business through IMEX

The Sri Lanka Conventions Bureau and SriLankan Airlines will be jointly taking part in this year’s IMEX together with MICE experts in the country Eco Team /Beyond Boundaries, Lanka Exhibitions and Conference Services, Golden Isle Travels, Sri Lanka Express, Jetwing Events, Connaissance De Ceylan, NKAR Travels & Tours and Aitken Spence Travels,

IMEX is the biggest international MICE Trade Fair in the world held in Frankfurt in May every year. Last year 3,500 attended IMEX as exhibitors from 157 countries representing national and regional tourist offices, major hotel groups, airlines, destination management companies, service providers and trade associations. More than 4,000 hosted buyers from 60 world markets were brought in by IMEX organisers.

“This year, the numbers will increase and Sri Lanka is poised to take full advantage of the many positive factors in the country including the development of new products, infrastructure, and of course, the permanent peace in the country,” said SLCB General Manager Vipula Wanigasekera.

Almost all SLCB promotions are carried out with SriLankan Airlines and this has not only enhanced the impact of promotions but also reduced costs through synergy in the organisation of such promotions.

This is a highly focused travel fair and only serious buyers are attending the business session.

IMEX organisers have granted a special press conference for Sri Lanka in which the opportunity will be given to address international MICE journalists who would publicise the new developments in the country.

A Sri Lankan well wisher from Germany has sponsored three valuable gem stones to be offered to the lucky buyers visiting the Sri Lanka pavilion on all three days where the new MICE buyers could establish possible business contacts.

Apart from this, the show works on a pre- scheduled appointment system where buyers select the exhibitors online, with 64,000 appointments made last year alone, out of which 40,000 took place on a one-on-one basis.

“Our strength is really on the Incentive Travel Market which Europe generates and this year we could certainly capitalise with the opening of the east and the infrastructure development. The MICE operators who are accompanying us are fully geared to offer creative packages which cannot be easily matched by our competitors,” concluded Wanigasekera.