By Mewati Sitaram
In a major push to position Sri Lanka as a leading MICE (Meetings, Incentives, Conferences, and Exhibitions) destination in South Asia, the Sri Lanka Convention Bureau (SLCB), in collaboration with the Sri Lanka Tourism Promotion Bureau, successfully hosted a MICE Roadshow and Press Conference at TAJ Westend, Bengaluru, on July 3, 2025.
The event saw active participation from Indian MICE planners, corporate travel experts, and tour operators. A high-powered Sri Lankan delegation, including officials from SLCB, 20 destination management companies, leading hotels and resorts, and tourism service providers, engaged with Indian stakeholders to explore synergies and forge new partnerships.
With Indian arrivals reaching 204,060 between January and May 2025, India continues to be Sri Lanka’s most significant inbound market. The roadshow was a strategic effort to strengthen tourism ties and showcase Sri Lanka’s capabilities as a vibrant and competitive MICE destination. Bengaluru was specifically chosen as a target market due to its growing base of corporate travellers and event planners.
Dheera Hettiarachchi, Chairman SLCB interacting with Banglore Media.
The event highlighted Sri Lanka’s year-round appeal for business events, its expanding infrastructure, and its growing readiness to host international conferences and incentive groups. The initiative forms part of a broader campaign to deepen Sri Lanka’s tourism outreach in India.
“Sri Lanka is widely recognized as an exciting and diverse holiday destination by global travellers, and increasingly as a top MICE venue,” said Harsha Ruparathne, Acting Deputy High Commissioner, Sri Lanka Deputy High Commission, Chennai. “As India’s economy grows, Sri Lanka seeks stronger integration through tourism, trade and economic collaboration.”
Dheera Hettiarachchi, Chairman, Sri Lanka Convention Bureau, added, “Sri Lanka’s proximity and connectivity to India make it a cost-effective MICE destination. We are committed to strengthening ties with India, our top source market.”
Fawzan Fareid, Regional Manager, SriLankan Airlines, commented, “MICE travel accounts for 15–20% of India’s outbound market. We’ve seen over 30% growth in Indian MICE travel to Sri Lanka. Through our collaboration with SLCB, we aim to double these numbers with ongoing roadshows across India.”
The networking evening offered valuable one-on-one sessions, updates on Sri Lanka’s latest tourism developments, incentives for MICE groups, and seamless travel facilitation.
The Bengaluru roadshow marks a significant milestone in Sri Lanka’s ongoing strategy to tap into India’s booming outbound MICE segment and establish itself as a preferred partner for business tourism.
Editor in Chief : Mewati SItaram
