Record participation at Hotel Asia show

Saliya Rupasinghe in Male

Male Wednesday: The tenth edition of the Hotel Asia the largest gathering of the hospitality industry is the Maldives began yesterday with a record participation.

The Minister of Economics, of the Maldivian government Ahamed Mohamed said that this year there was also an increase of the Maldivian participation and this was also welcomed. "While we need to increase local participation the foreign participation too should increase," he said. Mohamed who was the chief guest said that they will also look at increasing hall space at the capital's convention centre as this exhibition could further enlarge.

He said that the event while providing the much needed supplies to the hotel industry also enables businessmen to meet and forgo alliances.

He said that Sri Lanka is a very important market for them and all leaders in the Maldives have maintained close relationships with Sri Lanka.

He said that the Maldives saw a dip in tourist arrivals last year but this year they would be able to attract the one million arrival mark.

Director Lanka Exhibition and Conference Services (LECS) the organizers of the event said that when the exhibition started 10 years ago they hands only 60 exhibiters and today they have over 200 from over 30 countries. "We also have a record 40 stalls from Sri Lankan this year."

He also said that they would introduce an investment forum next year.

Chairman LECS Arjun Dharmadasa said that they will try to host a Pakistan stall next year.