An inspiring workshop in Stockholm on ‘Sri Lanka as a meeting- and conference destination for Swedish companies’ was arranged on 31 May, by Best of Sri Lanka in Sweden in cooperation with Aitken Spence Travels Ltd.

Leif I Ohlson founder of Best of Sri Lanka in Sweden and also Secretary General of Sweden-Sri Lanka Business Council briefed the participants about the Swedish MICE-market and Kapila Abeywardane from Aitken Spence Travels informed about the possibilities in Sri Lanka. The participants in the workshop shared their experiences from participating in conferences in Sri Lanka. There were also forthcoming visitors present who learnt more about Sri Lanka.

It was stated that 57% of companies with 20 employees or more take one or more trips abroad every year. The target group and most preferred party size is 30-60 delegates.

In 2016 Swedish delegates held congresses, conferences and conventions at a cost of more than 7 billion rupees – this just counting the bigger congresses and conferences. A Swedish delegate spends approximately 64,000 rupees per day. EU average is 44,000 rupees, which is 5 times more than the casual visitor. In 2016 the amount of conventions, congresses and conferences rose about 15% from 2015.

The growth rate of the Swedish economy/GDP is twice as high as the EU average. Employment rates are the highest in the EU. Government reforms have given the Swedish business industry more space to evolve and grow.

Swedish travelling habits

58% of Swedes go on more than one trip abroad every year. 99% of all Swedes have travelled abroad at some time in their life. The travelling is constantly increasing, in large part due to prices of travel decreasing. Swedish people also have a wish to discover new destinations. Reservations for long-haul flights with budget airlines have increased among Europeans by 29% over the past year.

Source : http://www.ft.lk/travel-tourism/Promotional-workshop-in-Stockholm-for-MICE-travels-to-Sri-Lanka/27-656426