With the dawn of permanent peace MICE arrivals has been increasing in Sri Lanka within the last 3 threes and they’ll keep growing. Around 11 percent of the full visitors into Sri Lanka represent the (MICE) segment and currently it stands over 100,000 with a 5-10 increase annually.
Sri Lanka isn’t new to the industry. Government then hosted Non Aligned Conference long ago in 1976 where 83 world leaders were in Sri Lanka . A higher biggest conference is CHOGM happening this year that’s again a state hosted event but Sri Lanka convention Bureau ( SLCB) is creating a direct contribution inside the sub committees.
The Mission of Sri Lanka convention Bureau is to place Sri Lanka internationally as a recognized venue for Meetings and Events. Among many international conferences, Sri Lanka will host during this year are 22nd Working Meeting IUCN SSC Crocodile Specialist , 42nd SKAL Asia Pacific Congress
2nd International Conference on Engineering Mathematics and Physics, 2nd International Conference on Psychological Sciences and Behaviors – ICPSB, 2nd International Conference on Innovation, Trade and Economics – ICITE , International Symposium on Community Governance Colombo, Sri Lanka
1st International Conference on Bio-Diversity
Sri Lanka also won the bid to host Asian Youth Games that’s coming to Sri Lanka in 2017. This will be the most important Sports events to be held in Sri Lanka. Within the recent past Sri Lanka Sri Lanka has held quite variety of reputed conferences including The 44th Annual Scientific Sessions & 8th South Asia Federation of Obstetrics and Gynecology (SAFOG) Conference , Annual Conference of the Asian Pacific Stroke Organisation , 10th International Conference of the East & Southeast Asia Federation of Soil Science Societies, 6th Asian Congress of Pediatric Infectious decease , Asia Pacific Academic Consortium for Public Health ,IATA Global Aviation Summit and 21st Annual Congress & Scientific session of school of Ophthalmologist
Sri Lanka’s current tourism strategy is focusing more on Infrastructure, Product and attraction development and Investments. MICE sector also awaits infrastructure development and Government has taken a timely decision by embarking on two Convention Centres viz Hambantota and Another in Peliyagoda. That is along with the growth of BMICH and the facilities available in City hotels for conferences may also help the industry. The potential of the expansion of Exhibitions is additionally enormous with the prevailing facilities becoming full with bookings.
Sri Lanka’s real strength is in Corporate Meetings and Incentive Travel for the range of attractions and locations available on this country that can’t be easily matched by every other competitor. The variety is so vast from beaches, to culture, Heritage, wild life, mountains that may be reached within some hours of drive. The recent products will further be added onto the Tourism plants and these include Boutique type themed products.
We have promoted Incentive travelers beyond beaches to tea plantations, waterfalls, Wild Life, Horse Riding, Fresh Water fishing , Adventure with team building and motivational programs. Kandy has also become a well-liked venue or in any case a degree which the inducement program touches including a trip to Botanical Garden and a game of Golf
Unique incentive programs covering diversity of locations are offered to Incentive Houses to distinguish incentive tour packages in Sri Lanka from that of her competitors. Most long haul Incentive travelers wish to avoid Colombo and experience sandy beaches snorkeling, Scuba diving and skiing and now the wild life, Whale Watching, Spiritual Development etc.
Corporate meeting planners also favor to book venues within the Cultural Triangle, Galle and a number of other locations in Sri Lanka. In most of these locations, accommodation and meeting facilities are offered. There also are facilities for corporate training programs and natural settings for exclusive incentives.
SLCB is present on the IMEX with the industry to convey to all meeting and Incentive planners that Sri Lanka has now emerged as the most efficient valuable Incentive destinations and company venues for business meetings and we believe more on the planet of mouth than some other communication tools.