Hosts a networking evening on cruise over the Ganges River on 10th July 2024 to strengthen ties with travel-trade fraternity of Kolkata and foster business partnerships.
Sri Lanka Tourism, in collaboration with the Sri Lanka Convention Bureau (SLCB) and the Sri Lanka Tourism Promotion Bureau (SLTPB), hosted a networking evening on a cruise over the Ganges River on 10th July 2024. This event welcomed the travel-trade fraternity of Kolkata, fostering invaluable partnerships and promising to reshape perceptions.
The evening was inaugurated by prominent figures including Thisum Jayasuriya, Chairman, SLCB; Manav Soni, Chairman, Eastern Region Chapter, TAAI; Bilolaksha Das, Chairman of the Eastern India Chapter, TAFI; Dammika Kulathunga, Manager of Northern India at SriLankan Airlines; Debjit Dutta, Chairman of the IATO West Bengal Chapter; Sanjiv Mehra, President of SKAL International – India; Amin Asghar, President of the Kolkata Chapter of SKAL International; and Malkanthi Welikala, Manager of Marketing at the Sri Lanka Convention Bureau.
The networking evening in Kolkata highlighted Sri Lanka’s stunning landscapes, vibrant cultural heritage, and welcoming atmosphere through engaging discussions and presentations. India remains a vital source market for Sri Lanka, with nearly 200,000 Indian tourists having arrived so far this year. The extended visa-free entry for Indian nationals is expected to boost these numbers further, setting new records in 2024.
Thisum Jayasuriya, Chairman of the Sri Lanka Convention Bureau, highlighted Sri Lanka’s growth as a preferred MICE destination, with enhanced venues and accessibility attracting corporate events. The country’s MICE sector saw success with the 3rd MICE expo in May 2024, featuring 100 international buyers and 113 local suppliers. India remains a key target market for MICE travel, with efforts to increase revenue from this segment. The collected data shows that the MICE arrival comes to 9.5% in 2023 compared to the overall tourist arrival and is expected this percentage to grow up to 12% in 2024, aiming for earnings of over $550 million. By 2026, the target is $1.36 billion in earnings and 10% of total arrivals from MICE tourism. The bureau aims for an 11% increase in MICE arrivals annually, as MICE travellers spend significantly more than other tourist segments.
