Convention Bureau to continue efforts in ME
The Sri Lanka Convention Bureau (SLCB) which entered the Middle East
market two years ago, will continue with its efforts this year too.
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From left: Sudath Kuruppu, SriLankan Airlines Dubai, Kumudu
Hennedige, SLCB, Gayan Gamage, SriLankan Airlines Abu Dhabi,
Shyana Wijayaratne SriLankan Holidays and MICE Colombo and
Ifthard Sheriff, SriLankan Airlines Abu Dhabi |
The determination of the Tourism Ministry and the Industry to promote
this market enabled the Bureau to ride on these programs to create
interest among MICE Buyers viz the Meeting planners and Incentive
Houses.
This is a big market with Middle East and international companies
said Kumudu Hennadige who represented the Bureau at the GIBTM fair which
is the only MICE fair held in the Middle East.
There is an economic downturn which will result in the reduced number
of meetings moving outside the region but this is still big enough for
us to have a reasonable share in the coming years.
The timing was perfet when Sri Lanka Tourism was on a Road show
covering many cities in the Middle East, the program of which was led by
the Deputy Minister of Tourism Faiszer Mustapha.
Sri Lanka is yet to benefit from the MICE potential from the Middle
East and the Bureau will have a low cost strategy to reach out to the
target market. The awareness has been created and the interest is very
much with the buyers. There will be positive results in the coming
months when the word goes around that the conflict is over', the Bureau
said.
The visit of Kumudu Hennadige entailed participation in the GIBTM
(Gulf Incentive, Business Travel and Meetings Exhibition) from March 31
- April 2 at the Abu Dhabi International Exhibition Centre where nearly
1,000 buyers visited the exhibition.
After the GIBTM, the SLCB continued with sales calls in Dubai where
the buyers were given first hand information on the situation as well as
meetings facilties and new products. |
