JEDDAH, 22 November 2006 — A three-day Saudi-Indian Tourism Mart and seminar opens in Dammam today at the Eastern Province Chamber of Commerce and Industry to explore prospects of enhancing cooperation in the tourism sector. Senior officials, business leaders and tourism experts from both countries will take part in the event.
Abdullah Ali Al-Saihati, chairman of Saihati Group and patron of Orion Sargam, organizer of the event, said the mart would play a big role in promoting Indo-Saudi cultural and business relations. The mart includes a Kerala business meet at Sheraton, an Indian food festival and Saudi-Indian cultural programs at the Prince Muhammad bin Fahd Park on Halfmoon Beach.
Abdul Aziz Al-Ayyaf, secretary-general of the chamber will open the tourism seminar today while Khaled Almaeena, editor in chief of Arab News, will open the business meeting on Thursday. Key speakers include Rajeev Shahare, deputy chief of the mission at the Indian Embassy, B. Suman, director of Kerala Tourism, and Anita Pratap, a prominent Indian journalist.
Saihati, who visited Kerala last year, spoke highly of the state’s tourism investment potentials. “Kerala is a very beautiful place endowed with lots of natural resources. Its people are hard working, intelligent and cooperative. I was overwhelmed by their hospitality,” he said, adding that Saudis and other foreign tourists would enjoy visiting Kerala.
Spelling out the state’s tourist attractions, the Saudi businessman said, “Kerala has long shorelines and lush hill stations, exotic wildlife, waterfalls and above all well acclaimed Ayurvedic health remedies.”
Saihati, who has set up two companies in Kochi to carry out tourism and real estate projects worth SR50 million, said Kerala has good investment prospects in tourism, information technology and related industries and real estate considering the growing influx of international tourists, the presence of highly skilled personnel and a large middle and upper class population.
