The Sri Lanka Convention Bureau (SLCB), under the aegis of the Sri Lanka Tourism Promotion Bureau, successfully conducted a MICE Roadshow and Press Conference in Hyderabad. This event was a significant step in Sri Lanka’s strategy to position itself as a premier MICE (Meetings, Incentives, Conferences, and Exhibitions) destination.
The roadshow saw robust participation from key Indian MICE planners, corporate travel specialists, and travel trade partners. A strong delegation from Sri Lanka, including Officials from SLCB, 20 Destination Management Companies, leading hotels and resorts, tour operators etc engaged in networking with the Indian attendees and media.
The primary objective of this initiative was to fortify the existing bonds between Sri Lanka and India, fostering mutually beneficial partnerships within the burgeoning tourism and MICE sectors. The increasing influx of Indian tourists to Sri Lanka has been a major contributor to the surge in overall tourist arrivals, with 204,060 Indian visitors recorded between January and May 31st, 2025. This highlights India as a crucial market for Sri Lankan tourism.
Harsha Ruparathne, Actg. Deputy High Commissioner, Sri Lanka Deputy High Commission in Chennai, India said, “Sri Lanka is widely recognized as an exciting and diverse holiday destination by all global visitors and now it is a most sought-after venue for MICE as well. With India’s economy on an upward trajectory, Sri Lanka stands to benefit immensely by integrating into India’s growth story through joint ventures, increased exports and deeper economic linkages through tourism etc. Therefore, we welcome Indian travellers to visit Sri Lanka to revitalize its economy for shared prosperity as its closest neighbour”.
Dheera Hettiarachchi, Chairman, Sri Lanka Convention Bureau said, “Sri Lanka is an excellent MICE destination due to its proximity and strong connectivity, making it a cost-effective and appealing option for meetings, incentives, conferences, and exhibitions. These roadshows will showcase Sri Lanka’s growth and help strengthen ties with India. India continues to be a top priority source market for Sri Lanka’s MICE sector.”
Fawzan Fareid, Regional Manager India, Bangladesh & Nepal, SriLankan Airlines, said, “MICE movement out of India is a goldmine contributing nearly 15–20% of the total outbound leisure travel market. We’ve observed a strong upward trend in MICE travel from India to Sri Lanka with a growth of over 30% in recent months. At SriLankan Airlines we’re extremely excited to partner with the Sri Lanka Convention Bureau to double MICE arrivals to Sri Lanka.”
The networking evening proved to be a resounding success. The evening facilitated dynamic one-on-one interactions, allowing Sri Lankan tourism partners to directly engage with Indian MICE planners, corporate travel specialists, and travel trade partners.
