The inaugural Southern MICE Expo, organised by the Sri Lanka Convention Bureau, Southern Sri Lanka, concluded successfully in Bentota on 28th May 2024. More than 100 buyers from 15 nations convened with numerous Sri Lankan vendors, marking a successful event.
Addressing the plenary session inauguration at Cinnamon Grand Resort Bentota on 28th May, Mr Harin Fernando, Sri Lanka’s Minister of Tourism, highlighted his ministry’s dedicated efforts to position Sri Lanka as a premier MICE destination on the global stage.
While inaugurating the meeting Fernando said. To attain this goal, we’ve orchestrated a series of consecutive MICE Expos. Following a virtual Expo in December 2021 amidst the pandemic, we hosted the nationwide Colombo MICE Expo, succeeded by the Jaffna MICE Expo, aimed at showcasing the northern region as a MICE hotspot. This marks our third MICE Expo within a year. These repeated endeavours have significantly heightened global recognition and remembrance of Sri Lanka as a prominent MICE destination.
“Southern Sri Lanka stands out as one of the premier tourism destinations nationwide, boasting a blend of immaculate beaches, vibrant culture, rich heritage, and abundant nature and wildlife. Additionally, the region serves as the focal point for water sports in Sri Lanka,” the Minister emphasized.
Fernando said. “Once you arrive, you’ll discover that hosting MICE events in Sri Lanka isn’t merely about arranging gatherings; it’s about immersing yourself in a complete experience, enriched by the renowned warmth and hospitality that Sri Lankans are celebrated for worldwide.”
Mr Thisum Jayasuriya, Chairman of SLCB, said that the success of the previous MICE Expos had led to a demand for this event to be held in the southern part of the island nation and that this positioning of Sri Lanka as a global MICE haven would continue to be strengthened over the years as well.
“We aim to highlight various regions of the country. I expect this Expo to boost MICE tourism in southern Sri Lanka. We will continue this initiative, and next year, it will be larger, with more delegates from a greater number of countries,’’ In June, we’ll conduct a roadshow in India, targeting Tier II cities such as Gujarat, including Ahmedabad, Surat, and Vadodara. India remains a key focus for our promotional activities throughout the year, given that the majority of our MICE travel originates from there. Jayasuriya told Tourism India.
According to Mr Chalaka Gajabahu, Chairman of the Sri Lanka Tourism Promotion Bureau, The country’s emphasis on MICE tourism aims to diversify tourism segments and stabilize the industry, particularly with the emergence of new hotel and event properties equipped to accommodate large-scale events.
The Expo truly unveiled the enchantment of Sri Lanka, establishing it as an essential event for both travel enthusiasts and industry professionals.
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