Thursday Sep 25, 2025
Thursday Sep 25, 2025
Wednesday, 30 July 2025 00:00 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}
Sri Lanka Convention Bureau (SLCB) welcomed a MICE Travel Agents Delegation from Dhaka, Bangladesh for a familiarisation tour. The program was held from 23 to 28 June.
The participated travel agents were nominated by the Sri Lanka High Commission in Bangladesh, ensuring a well-curated and high-caliber delegation. The group comprised distinguished members of the Travel Operators Association of Bangladesh (TOAB), representing leading agencies with extensive expertise in promoting outbound travel and MICE tourism.
Bangladesh ranked among the top ten emerging source markets in 2024 and has now positioned itself within the top twenty in 2025 demonstrating strong potential for continued growth. Amid evolving global political dynamics, the Bangladesh MICE industry is actively seeking secure and compelling alternatives for their clientele. Recognising this opportunity, the Sri Lanka Convention Bureau (SLCB) has taken proactive measures to attract this market, initiating strategic efforts to promote and position Sri Lanka as a premier MICE destination for Bangladesh MICE market.
The program is included in the SLCB Marketing Plan 2025. The program was designed to provide delegation with first-hand insights into Sri Lanka’s MICE infrastructure, capabilities, and incentive offerings, enabling them to better position the country as a safe, secure, and compelling destination for both business and bleisure travellers. The initiative offered delegates a comprehensive understanding of Sri Lanka’s tourism potential and equipped them to promote the destination to their esteemed clientele with confidence.
During the tour, the delegation explored a range of MICE venues and tourist attractions across Colombo, Negombo, Bentota, Galle, Ambalangoda, Wadduwa, and Bandaragama. The itinerary was curated to offer a diverse selection of experiences including wellness retreats, theme park visits, water sports, river safaris, city tours, shopping, nightlife activities, and comprehensive hotel inspections. Through dedicated inspection tours of hotels and MICE facilities in Negombo, Waskaduwa, Bentota, Galle, and Colombo, the delegates gained valuable first-hand insights into venue capacities and infrastructure, reinforcing Sri Lanka’s readiness to host world-class MICE events.
In conjunction with the Familiarisation Tour, Sri Lanka Convention Bureau (SLCB) successfully hosted a B2B networking session at the Lumina Ballroom, Cinnamon Life, on 27 June. The Bangladesh MICE delegation engaged with 26 leading Sri Lankan MICE travel agents and hotels, fostering valuable connections and encouraging bilateral engagement. The session provided a meaningful platform to enhance Sri Lanka–Bangladesh collaboration in the MICE sector, while supporting the continued development of Sri Lanka’s MICE industry.
As per the statistics published by the Sri Lanka Tourism Development Authority (SLTDA) there were 35,479 Bangladesh travellers visited Sri Lanka for up to July 2025 and Bangladesh ranked among the top 20 arrival markets for 2025. Recognising this significant contribution, Sri Lanka Convention Bureau (SLCB) has prioritised Bangladesh as a key source market to advance MICE tourism and has strategically incorporated targeted initiatives within its Annual Marketing Plan.
