Maalu Maalu operative 2011

By Lalin Fernandopulle

The foundation stone for the first hotel project under the Negenahira Navodaya program Maalu Maalu Resorts and Spas of the Amaya Resorts Group was laid by Minister of Economic Development, Basil Rajapaksa on Tuesday.

The 40-room luxury resort at the Pasikudah beach is the first hotel resort in the East, is a popular tourist destination for its enticing beach and ecological setting.

Amaya is also the first hotel to be set up in the Pasikudah Tourism Zone with an investment of Rs. 250 million.

The hotel which is expected to be completed by mid 2011 will initially provide employment to over 100 people in the area.

The project was launched in keeping with the government’s program to promote eco-tourism in the East.

Around 13 investors have shown interest in constructing hotels and resorts in the East which is fast becoming a hot spot for tourism in the region. Built on a three acre land of the Tourism Development Authority the resort is based on a fishing village concept.

The holiday resort being a novel and more indigenous concept has received the fullest support from the tourism industry and the community in Pasikudah.

Chairman, Amaya Resorts, Chandra Wickremasinghe said the blue beach and the surrounding ambience will woo more eco-friendly and adventure tourists who would want to revel in a unique setting.

Eastern beaches are world renowned for scenic beauty, whale watching and wind surfing.

The region is also popular for religious and cultural tourism.

“The objective of the resort is to attract more French tourists who frequently patronise Amaya resorts, and to offer an exciting and memorable holiday experience to discerning travellers”, Wickremasinghe said.

The infrastructure has been put in place and it is the ideal time to invest in the hotel sector which is rebounding with the new image of the country.

Following the revival of tourism over 1,000 hotel rooms are expected to be built in the East.

Steps have been taken to promote Sri Lanka as the safest and the most preferred destination in the region. Tourist arrivals have been on the upward trend with a month-on-month increase compared to last year which had a sluggish growth due to the slow pace in global tourism recovery.

The Ministry of Tourism and all stakeholders are working towards achieving the two million target of tourist arrivals by 2016.