DAMMAM, 23 November 2006 — A tourism seminar held at the Eastern Province Chamber of Commerce and Industry yesterday as part of the three-day Indo-Saudi Tourism Mart emphasized the position of Kerala as one of the leading tourist destinations in the world. The seminar was organized by Orion Sargam, a group of NRK (non-resident Keralites) investors.
Abdul Aziz Al-Ayyaf, secretary-general of the chamber, opened the seminar attended by a number of Saudi and Indian businessmen. He highlighted Kerala’s major tourist attractions including its lush green beauty, backwaters, lagoons and waterfalls.
“I believe that this seminar and other tourism-related activities undertaken by Orion Sargam will help encourage Saudi tourists to visit Kerala since people from this region now increasingly prefer to spend their holidays in Asian countries,” Al-Ayyaf told the seminar.
He thanked Rafeek Younus, president of Orion Sargam, for organizing the event, considered the first of its kind in the Kingdom. “I believe that this seminar will play a vital role in attracting Saudi tourists to Kerala,” he added.
Al-Ayyaf praised Kerala’s hardworking people‚ “who have made this Indian state well known to the outside world. “Millions of Keralites live and work in the Gulf countries, including more than 600,000 in Saudi Arabia,” he pointed out.
B. Suman, director of Kerala Tourism, gave a presentation of major tourist destinations and infrastructure facilities in the state. “The number of foreign tourists to Kerala is increasing by 35 percent annually since 1991,” he said. He said 10 major institutions have reached an agreement with Kerala Tourism to promote medical tourism in the state.
Khaled Almaeena, editor in chief of Arab News, will open a business meet at Sheraton Hotel today as part of the tourism mart. Abdullah Al-Saihati, chairman of Saihati Group, Rajeev Shahare, deputy chief of the mission at the Indian Embassy, B. Suman, and Anita Pratap, a prominent Indian journalist, will address the business event.
Al-Saihati, who is patron of Orion Sargam, said the mart would play a big role in promoting Indo-Saudi cultural and business relations. The mart includes an Indian food festival and Saudi-Indian cultural programs at the Prince Muhammad bin Fahd Park on Halfmoon Beach.
