Second Chairperson’s Forum on MICE tourism concludes successfully

The forum in progress via zoom 

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 & Events) activities.

SLCB has planned a series of educational seminars, 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  August 18 as a fully virtual event.The event was organized 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 & Associations to develop MICE business in Sri Lanka’, focused tocreate awareness among participated organizations to promote Sri Lanka as a MICE destination for Meetings, Incentives, Conferences, Exhibitions & Business Events, to build relationships to bid for regional & international MICE events, 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 with MICE; Business Events’. She 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. 

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 SLAPCEOspoke 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 Sri Lankan airlines was represented by Dimuthu Tennakoon –Head of Worldwide Sales & Distribution 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. 
Krishantha Fernando –General Manger SLCB also spoke on SLCB’s event support scheme.