BMICH loses Rs.500 m, awaits go-ahead for exhibitions
Amid the COVID-19 pandemic the conduct of exhibitions is likely to come under scrutiny by Health Ministry officials next week as the BMICH intends on resuming exhibitions by mid- August.
BMICH Director General Sunil Dissanayake told the Business Times on Wednesday that they hope to recommence exhibitions by mid August for which approvals are due from the Health Services Director General next week.
He noted that currently they are receiving bookings for exhibitions to be held over the weekends but could not go ahead as yet.
He pointed out that due to the pandemic they had lost revenue to the tune of Rs.500 million in terms of bookings for both conferences and exhibitions from mid-March to December this year. They had experienced about 10 per cent cancellations while some others opted to postpone their bookings for a later date.
In the meantime, conference halls are receiving bookings since June 23 when the first meeting took place after the lockdown, Mr. Dissanayake said.
He pointed out that 50 per cent of hall capacity is allowed to participate at conferences held at their venues in line with the health guidelines.
About 270 conferences continue to be scheduled from now until December, Mr. Dissanayake said adding that more are scheduled for next year.
For next year there are about 600 bookings from January to December with three international conferences namely the World HR Congress in March; the Asia Drowning and Life Saving conference in October; and the Asia Pacific Dental Congress mid next year that have been confirmed since last year and postponed for next year.
Mr. Dissanayake pointed out that should other markets not go in for a more waves of the COVID-19 pandemic then there could be more interest in conducting conferences here.
However, in Sri Lanka itself due to the recent surge in COVID-19 cases there had been a reluctance to book the venue and forthcoming general elections were another factor.
BMICH is maintaining health guidelines like primarily distancing, wearing masks, sanitizing hand, temperature checks and feet disinfection at the main gates as well as the entrances to the venues. This is in addition to the security checks imposed since April last year, he said adding that they have also trained staff to respond to customer queries.