Hospitality exhibition to boost tourism

by P. Krishnaswamy

Pico Sri Lanka and Montgomery Worldwide UK, specialists in organising international trade exhibitions, are hosting a three-day mega international trade exhibition from October 27-29 at the Sri Lanka Exhibition and Convention Centre themed Hotel, Hospitality and Food Sri Lanka.

The trade exhibition is being hosted by the Small and Medium Enterprises in Tourism Sri Lanka (ASMET), Federation of Chambers of Commerce and Industry Sri Lanka (FCCISL) and the Sri Lanka Convention Bureau (SLCB) in strategic partnership with the European Chamber of Commerce Sri Lanka (ECCSL).

Executive Director, Pico Sri Lanka Shanti Outschoorn addresses the media.

Project Director of Montgomery Worldwide UK John Vimpany, one of the world's longest an established multi-national exhibition organiser, said at the media briefing that they have been following rapid developments in Sri Lanka in recent years and everywhere there is evidence of solid growth and strong potential. Sri Lanka has been gaining serious world attention as it aspires to a service economy and its tourism sector is currently diversifying and is engaged in modernisation.

The hotel industry in South Asia is ready to grasp new opportunities, and with this country becoming more acceccible once again to foreign tourists and the potential of the North and East becoming reality, the opportunities are greatest of all for Sri Lanka, he said.

In the context of the fact that this year has been marked as the Tourism Year of Sri Lanka with anticipated rapid growth in the arrival of tourists, increased revenue from the industry and also huge investments in the sector, they believe that this is the best year to host the exhibition to boost industry growth, as innovative specialist trade shows are catalys that will further stimulate these trends, he said. They are certain that the event will enhance Colombo as a regional business destination and boost business tourism, he said.

The show targets those in Hotel Management, Food Service Management, Catering, Restaurants-Cafes-Bar and Club Management, hospitality sector trainers and HR specialists throughout the world for them get maximum benefit out of the show, he said.

Shanti Outschoorn, Executive Director of Pico Sri Lanka said that they have joined hands with Montgomery in partnership because many business opportunities have arisen specially in the Hotel, Hospitality and Tourism Industry. The exhibition is focused on the growth of the hotel industry in Sri Lanka. With the Government's intention of increasing tourist arrivals to 2.5 million by 2016 from the current level of 0.6 million, the trade exhibition will play a vital role in enhancing the facilities offered to tourists while bringing potential business delegations to the country.

On the other hand they are certain that the trade event will also benefit our country through the development of tourism infrastructure and directly contribute towards MICE tourism by creating a perfect B2B platform. They believe that the exhibition partnership will also result in internationalisation of the local exhibition industry and give an opportunity to show the world our capability and standard in industry, she said.

Sri Lanka has been enjoying a general growth rate of five percent in recent years but with the well publicised new stability throughout the entire country, the GDP is now set to grow at eight percent, Emile Gunasekera, General Manager of Pico Sri Lanka said. With the projected tourist arrivals in 2016 at 2.5 million, the projected increase in revenue from the industry at US $ 600 million and investments at Rs. 800 million, the need to construct about 36,000 new rooms and refurbish the existing rooms has arisen.

The exhibition will facilitate the availability in Sri Lanka itself of all support services. Including architecture, design and development and to all other requirements, he said.

General Manager, European Chamber of Commerce Sri Lanka Niranjala Del, President, Tourist Hotel Association of Sri Lanka Anura Lokuhetti, President of the Association of Small and Medium Enterprises Tourism Sri Lanka Siri de Mel and Project Consultant Asia, Montgomery Worldwide Charlie Wrey also briefed the media.