Conferences and MICE market strengthen in Sri Lanka
View(s):Conferences and conventions’ business in Sri Lanka grew last year while 2014 is expected to be an even better year, industry officials said.
At least 40 conferences were held in 2013 against 28 international conferences in the previous year, according to officials at the Sri Lanka Conventions Bureau (SLCB).
However Imran Hassan, a MICE specialist, said the lack of large conference venues means Sri Lanka has to opt for mid-sized meetings since the country’s largest convention centre – the Bandaranaike International Memorial Conference Hall – can accommodate only a maximum of 1,500 in one sitting. “Growth is there and many smaller and mid-size meetings are expected. But we can’t bid for the bigger ones owing to limited infrastructure,” he said.
An SLCB official said that among the biggest events last year was the Commonwealth leaders meeting in November attended by over 30 heads of state and government and their delegations. The World Crocodile Conference in May and a meeting of all natural rubber producing countries were the other main events.
The UN World Youth Conference next May and some medical meetings are the confirmed events for 2014. He said that infrastructure has improved for meetings with the opening in of the Hambantota International Conference Hall in November with a capacity of accommodating up to 1,500 persons.
The hall is located in the southern district of Hambantota where the country’s second international airport is located.