Hambantota vies for MICE events in 2014
The Sri Lanka Conventions Bureau is in discussions with organizers of conferences and exhibitions scheduled for this year to shift some events to Hambantota aimed at promoting the newest address for MICE visitors.
Currently there are two exhibition centres in Colombo and with the increasing number of exhibitions registering with the Conventions Bureau, discussions were underway with organisers to shift some of the events to Hambantota since this latest venue can play host to conferences with limited space for exhibitions, the bureau’s General Manager Vipula Wanigasekara told the Business Times. With about 40 exhibitions and conferences conducted last year, 2014 was expected to play host to about 50 events.
He noted that at present there was space for conducting conferences in Hambantota and even the banquet and foyer areas could be used for exhibitions as well that accounted for an area of about 4000 sq. metres.
But Hambantota would be having an exhibition hall for itself in the future that would be constructed as part of the planned indoor youth games in 2017, it was explained.
Another exhibition centre was looked at in Pallekele, Kandy that was currently in the planning stages and would be constructed in about two years time, he said. With about 3000 rooms already available in the vicinity for those attending conferences in Hambantota this number of accommodation units would increase with Jetwing Yala and Shangri-La coming into being, Mr. Wanigasekara said.
He noted that there was direct access to the venue within three hours in addition to the availability of the Mattala airport located in the south.
In fact, this year a number of conferences are scheduled to take place with the highest at over 800 in March at the Hydro Asia 2014 that would bring together a gathering of power and energy related experts. In addition, about 600 would attend the 14th Congress of Asian Endocrine Surgeons; about 200 at the Asia Pacific Postal Union Conference; the SAARC ENT Congress for about 100 meeting in Colombo; a meeting of about 200 environmental experts at the International Conference on Climate Change; the Public Health International Conference with about 150 participants; and 300 attending the International Convention on Quality Control among others.
Mr. Wanigasekara observed that most exhibitions scheduled would be those that had started on an ad hoc basis have now become regular events in Colombo.
In this respect, he highlighted that there were: EDEX, Architect, Yarn and Fabric Show, Power, Renewable Energy, Construct, Ayurveda, Hotel Show, Electronic Show, Shilpa, ProFood, Facets, Book Fair, Tehcno, International Freight and Shipping exhibition and Footwear among others.
He noted that the Jaffna International Trade Fair (JITF) had now become a key event in the North and was set to attract a large number of foreign participants. A similar event would be held in Hambantota as well.
In this regard, it was pointed out that JITF was conducted without a hall but with only the use of special marquees with air conditioners.
He pointed out that the MICE sector also involves a number of incentive travellers as well and includes corporate meetings that have been mainly attractive for the Indian clientele 20, 000 of whom travel to Colombo for business or corporate meetings. The bureau would also be involved in carrying out promotions this year and as a result would take advantage of the mega events to attract MICE travellers especially from India and China, the General Manager observed.
As part of the international promotions, the bureau would participate at two fairs in China and also hope to tap into the Far Eastern market like Singapore and Malaysia. The latter markets were explored even last year.
He explained that they were carrying out campaigns locally with the local association and institutions in a bid to bring in people and exhibitors for which the bureau would assist them in the organising of the event.