Sri Lanka promotes 'MICE' tourism in Dhaka

COLOMBO (News 1st); The High Commission of Sri Lanka in Bangladesh in collaboration with the Sri Lanka Convention Bureau (SLCB) and Sri Lankan Airlines convened a MICE Promotion Evening recently at the High Commission premises in Dhaka Bangladesh.

MICE is an acronym for Meeting (corporate conferences), Incentive (corporate training and incentive travel), Convention (by international organizations and academic groups) and Event/Exhibition (including exhibitions and trade shows). It refers to business events that entail a large convergence of people.

The event included a Media Briefing, Business Match Making Programme between the Sri Lankan Delegation and the invited Bangladesh MICE buyers, followed by a Business Forum and Dinner Reception held at the High Commission premises.

The main objective of this exclusive event was the positioning Sri Lanka as a preferred MICE Destination and showcase the opportunities to Bangladesh Travel Trade, Professional Conference Organisers (PCO), and MICE organizations.

More than 80 participants from Bangladesh representing Outbound MICE Agents, Corporates, Association Heads and Incentive Houses and 12 Sri Lankan MICE Industry Companies, the National Flag Carrier SriLankan Airlines and the Sri Lanka Convention Bureau (SLCB) collaborated and engaged in exploring the MICE industry potential of the two countries.

The Association of Travel Agents Bangladesh (ATAB), The Bangladesh Outbound Tour Operators Association (BOTOA), The Tour Operators Association in Bangladesh (TOAB), and the Bangladesh Travel Writers Association (BDTWA) were also partnered with the High Commission of Sri Lanka in organizing the event.

In his keynote address, the High Commissioner of Sri Lanka, Professor Sudharshan Seneviratne highlighted the emergence of Bangladesh as a key target market in the South Asian region with its palpable presence. 

Bangladesh has proven its self-determination, economic development, and resilience within a very limited time frame while broadening its horizons, especially in the fields of trade, investment, and tourism. 

50 years of reflection of the two nations will undoubtedly maximize their collective potential in the coming years and the “Evening of MICE Promotion” will be the first of many in unleashing centuries of solidarity and fraternal ties between Sri Lanka and Bangladesh.

Chairman Sri Lanka Convention Bureau Thisum Jayasuriya said Bangladesh is a key source market in the South Asian Region for MICE and has shown a positive trend in its increase in MICE traffic over the past years. 

SriLankan Airlines direct air connectivity has positively encouraged to development of the sector. 

Sri Lanka is working towards catering to the Bangladesh MICE visitors in coordination with the Sri Lankan MICE stakeholders to sustain and increase the volume of Business by adding special experiential features.

In addressing the gathering, Manager SriLankan Airlines in Bangladesh Sharuka Wickrama Adittiya said that SriLankan Airlines will endeavor to provide its best services from departure to the inflight experience and return journey to all its passengers, which will be specially extended to the MICE groups along with a warm welcome on board Sri Lanka’s national carrier. 

SriLankan Airlines presently operates daily flights on the Colombo-Dhaka sector being an added advantage for all travelers.

Both Sri Lanka and Bangladesh hold great fortitude in sectoral cooperation, particularly in the areas of tourism, trade, commerce, shipping, and people-to-people contact whilst being significant members of SAARC, BIMSTEC, and the Commonwealth of Nations. 

Sri Lanka shares a great deal of comfort in doing business with Bangladesh and has been able to maintain a symbiotic relationship that entails the future growth of both countries.

This year, the two countries are celebrating the 50th Anniversary of Diplomatic Relations, and together will forge ahead in friendship and solidarity.