Convention Bureau, SriLankan promote MICE at GIBTM
In line with the vision of Minister of Tourism Milinda Moragoda to
enter emerging markets and the present drive of the Deputy Minister of
tourism to promote tourism from the Middle East, Sri Lanka took part in
the GIBTM 2008 Gulf Incentive, Business Travel and Meetings Exhibition.
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From Left: Malintha Rodrigo and Sudath Kuruppu of SriLankan
Airlines Abu Dhabi, Anuruddha Bandara - Wild Drift, Kumudu
Hennedige - Convention Bureau, Ambassador - M. N. Junaid,
Ms. Desiree Premachandra, Shyana Wijayaratne - SriLankan
Airlines, Hameem Farook - Amaya Resorts and Aasim Mukthar of
LECS. |
It was held at the Abu Dhabi International Exhibition Centre recently
for the second consecutive year with 245 exhibitors promoting wide range
of services and 239 hosted buyers.
The Sri Lanka Convention Bureau, the Government arm to promote the
meetings industry in Sri Lanka in its strategy to reach out to
Corporates in the Middle East took advantage of this event with its
partner SriLankan Airlines with an effective presence at the GIBTM to
promote the country as a venue for Meetings and Incentives.'
With the increase in the number of visitor arrivals from this region,
we have a better chance of convincing the MICE (Meetings, Incentives,
conferences and Exhibitions) segment that Sri Lanka is an ideal location
for their activities said the Bureau while accepting that although
Middle East is still generating a small percentage of MICE business
compared to India, it takes a while to get the word of mouth across from
credible sources after their experiences in Sri Lanka to confirm what we
promise at these promotions.
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