Sri Lanka’s efforts to boost its tourism sector, notably MICE tourism, is set to get a huge boost as Indian steel giant, Tata Steel, mounts a large group of over 650 delegates. Sri Lanka is rolling out the red carpet to welcome the group to mark the revival of MICE tourism.

Over the past few months, Sri Lanka has been proactively seeking to boost its tourism industry, in order to revive its economy which has been struggling by the lagging effects of Covid-19 as well as record high inflation in energy and food prices which led to instability in the country last year.

The months of ground work seem to be paying off as Sri Lanka is about to relaunch itself as a global MICE destination, on the best possible grounding, with a huge group of over 650 delegates mounted by Tata Steel, one of the world’s biggest steel makers.

And Sri Lanka is not sparing any effort in welcoming the Tata Steel group. According to a press statement, Sri Lankan Prime Minister Dinesh Gunawardene will inaugurate the Tata Steel and Tata Tiscon annual dealer conference in Colombo on February 7, along with the High Commissioner for India Gopal Baglay.

The statement adds that Tata Steel is one of the world’s most geographically diversified steel producers with operations that are fully integrated – from mining to the manufacturing and marketing of finished products. The members of the delegation that is arriving in Colombo form part of the Tata Group which is India’s largest conglomerate operating in over 150 countries.

“Tata’s decision to hold the conference in Sri Lanka is a demonstration of Indian companies willing to support the rebuilding efforts in Sri Lanka. The conference and logistics is being handled by their main dealer and representative in South India the VNC Group,” say Tata Steel officials.

According to the press statement, Tata Steel will also make a substantial cash contribution to the ‘Lifeline Sri Lanka’ project jointly run by Rotary International and UNICEF to fund medicine supplies to Sri Lanka.

The statement adds that Tata Steel, together with its subsidiaries, associates, and joint ventures, is spread across five continents with an employee base of over 65,000. The group recorded a consolidated turnover of USD 32.83 billion in the financial year ending March 31, 2022.

The statement says that Tata’s decision to hold the conference in Sri Lanka is a demonstration of Indian companies willing to support the rebuilding efforts in Sri Lanka.

To continue the momentum of MICE travel to Sri Lanka, the Sri Lanka Convention Bureau is organising the first MICE Expo 2023 from March 13-15 in Colombo, in collaboration with SriLankan Airlines as well as Sri Lankan Association of Professional Conference, Exhibition & Events Organisers (SLAPCEO).