The Country Representative of SriLankan Airlines, Mr. Angelo Punchihewa made a presentation on the airline and Mrs. Achini Dandunnage, Senior Manager of the Sri Lanka Convention Bureau spoke on MICE tourism, highlighting Sri Lanka as an ideal location for MICE.
Sri Lanka is now being promoted abroad as one of the major attractive travel destinations for foreign visitors. In 2013, more than one million tourists visited Sri Lanka. In 2014, it is anticipated that the target figure will reach 1.5 million by December and it will grow to 2.5 million in 2016.Around 15% of foreigners visit Sri Lanka as a MICE destination.
Sri Lanka is a hub in airline traffic with many airlines operating to Sri Lanka. When compared to other competing destinations, foreigners prefer visiting Sri Lanka, as the destination is regarded as good for value for money, in addition to the ease of obtaining entry visa online.
Sri Lanka offers all modern facilities to host Conferences, Exhibitions and Events with state of the art conference and exhibition centers. Moreover, Sri Lanka is a unique destination which offers diversity of attractions from beaches, mountains, wild life to ancient cities.
M.M. Abdul Raheem, Consul General of Sri Lanka in Dubai inaugurated the event and speaking on the occasion, remarked that Sri Lanka is now the safest destination for MICE tourism. He invited all UAE tour operators to work with the Sri Lanka Consulate General in Dubai, the Sri Lanka Convention Bureau and SriLankan Airlines, which would facilitate the requirements of corporate sectors and individual clients.
Being a financial and trading hub, many multinational companies are housed in Dubai and it would be quite cost effective for these companies to organize Meetings and Conferences in Sri Lanka, as Colombo is only four hours flight time from Dubai.
A cultural troupe from the National Youth Services Council entertained the audience with a Sri Lankan traditional cultural presentation. Eight tour operators were part of the Sri Lanka delegation at this promotional event in Dubai. (KH)
