Maldivian Hotel and Trade Fair begins

SHIRAJIV Sirimane reporting from the Maldives

THE third annual Hotel and Trade Fair of the Maldives began yesterday and over 50 officials in the hotel and trade sector represented Sri Lanka. For the first time the Export Development Board has also taken stalls.

According to an official of the EDB, the main aim of their participation is to promote local products in the Maldives. "We are keen to promote local handicrafts specially to the resorts which has a large foreign clientele," he said.

Though tourism arrivals are less than Sri Lanka, the buying power of the tourists arriving to Maldives is very high.

This is the main reason for us to concentrate on the tourism industry which would fetch a higher price for local manufacturers," he said.

The EDB is also keen to promote locally manufactured food products to the Maldivian market in a more organised manner.

Meanwhile the official opening ceremony of the event was held in the morning with the Maldivian Minister of Tourism Minister Dr. Ahamed Shaudy pledging to expand the exhibition to attract more companies. "We have around 75 stalls this year and our target for next year is more than 100 than stalls," he said.

He said that the tourism industry is growing and they are expecting larger tourist arrivals this year despite the tsunami "The industry had fully recovered," he said. the exhibition would also boost the tourism and the economy in the country.

Despite the tsunami, the hotels have not reduced their room rates in the resorts and their average room occupancy is over 90 percent. Additional flights too have been introduced to the Maldives for the season.

The Maldivian Chamber of Commerce and Artline the largest advertising agency of the country are organising the event. Dieagu the largest telecommunications network is sponsoring the event. The media sponsor for the event is Lake House.