Sri Lanka Convention Bureau (SLCB) has planned a series of educational seminars, workshops to create awareness among industry members, diplomats, airlines, associations, chambers, and academics to promote Sri Lanka as a venue for meetings, incentives, conferences, exhibitions and events (MICE) activities.
The second chairperson’s forum on MICE was held on 18 August 2021 as a fully virtual event. The event was organised by SLCB in collaboration with the Sri Lanka Association of Professional Conference, Exhibition & Event Organisers (SLAPCEO).
SLCB, a state institute under the Ministry of Tourism is tasked with promoting Sri Lanka as a venue for MICE activities.
The forum titled ‘Role of Business Chambers and Associations to develop MICE business in Sri Lanka’, focused to create awareness among participating organizations to promote Sri Lanka as a MICE destination to build relationships to bid for regional and international MICE events, and to obtain support to reach regional and international networks of business chambers and associations to attract events to Sri Lanka
Kimarli Fernando, Chairperson, Sri Lanka Tourism, educated the audience on how to re-discover Sri Lanka for MICE business events. Mrs. Fernando 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 market and attract 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.
Manjula De Silva, Secretary General and CEO of Ceylon Chamber of Commerce spoke on how chambers could assist to attract business events to Sri Lanka.
Imran Hassan, President of SLAPCEO explained 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 Dimuthu Tennakoon, Head of Worldwide Sales and Distribution. He informed the audience about the assistance SriLankan Airlines could offer from bidding and lobbying stages to delegates arriving in Sri Lanka to take part in the events.
