Chinese check into AHTIC to check out tourism opportunities in SL

Sri Lanka has announced that it will be welcoming a VIP delegation from China to the inaugural Asia Hotel and Tourism Investment Conference (AHTIC) in Colombo in November, organised by Bench Events and the Sri Lanka Tourism Club. 

The delegation, comprising leading investors and hoteliers, has been facilitated by the Centre of Asia Hotel Forum.  

Among the influential executives who will meet Sri Lankan President Maithripala Sirisena and Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe will be Haibo Bai, Chairman and President HNA Hotel Groups, part of the HNA Group, the Chinese aviation and shipping giant which recently acquired 25% of Hilton for $ 6.5 billion.

The delegation’s attendance is a coup for the conference and for Sri Lanka, which has plans in place to develop its tourism sector rapidly. During their seven-day stay, the Chinese executives will explore investment opportunities as guests of the Government.

Among the other Chinese VIPs will be:

• Yun Cai - Secretary-General of the China Real Estate Association Commercial and Tourism Estate Committee
• Henry Chen - Founder and President of the Asia Hotel Forum/Phoenix Global Investment www.phoenixinvest.ca/ 
• David Cho - Director of INSIGHT asset management and investment group Ltd. www.insightinvestment.com/ 
• Milin Kritsutthikun - Director of Business Development, Forise Land Real Estate www.foriseland.com  
• Shudong Li - General Manager – Development of Join. In Hospitality Management Co. Ltd. www.tlhotelsgroup.com/location-en.html 
• Qifeng Ning - Senior Vice President of Wanda Commercial Properties (Group) www.wandaplazas.com/en  
• Zhenyu Shen - GM of COFCO Investment Department (owner of  www.cofco.com/en/index.html)  
• Adam Xia - Business Development Center GM of Powerlong Real Estate Holdings Ltd. www.powerlong.com/view/index.action. 
• Xiaojian Xiao - Secretary-general of China Real Estate Association Financing Committee
• Dongjian Xu - Founder & President of Hanvon Technology www.hanvon.com.
• Hansen Zhao - President of Dossen International, Dossen Hotel Group www.dossen.com. 

High on their itinerary as they tour the island will be plans to attract tourists back to the ‘Pearl of the Indian Ocean’ with the launch of themed tourism development zones. The public-private sector initiative is backed by the Ministry of Lands, the Ministry of Tourism and the Sri Lanka Tourism Club, a Government-recognised group of industry leaders responsible for arranging the Chinese investors’ visit. 

At least five (and possibly eight) Themed International Tourism and Family Entertainment Zones are being designated on State-owned land selected for its outstanding natural beauty. 

This land includes beaches, mountains and forest regions, extending over more than 4,000 acres. The Chinese business leaders will hear the full plans at AHTIC. 

Sri Lanka Tourism Club Chairman Dr. Prabath C. Ukwatte, a founding sponsor and co-organiser of AHTIC, said: “We will be working with government ministries to deliver themed international tourism and family entertainment zones, and to open them up for foreign investment. The conference will be an ideal opportunity to explain what we will be doing and to attract international finance. The new relationship with Chinese investors and Henry Chen, the Founder of the Asia Hotel Forum, a pioneer Chinese investment introducer, is historical it establishes AHTIC as an economic bridge between China and Sri Lanka.” 

Henry Chen replied: “I’m delighted to be bringing this delegation. The opportunity is so self-evident. I can’t imagine any serious Chinese hospitality investor not wanting to take a good look at Sri Lanka.”

Tourism Minister John Amaratunga added: “We are giving the Tourism Club’s plans our full backing. More zones for development will be announced in the future. We are accelerating and widening the scope for investors by actively making reforms to reduce bureaucracy. We want to speed up decision-making.” 

He added that there would be new concessions and investment opportunities announced at AHTIC. Amaratunga said Sri Lanka wanted to generate up to five million tourists by 2020 and increase tourism revenue to $ 10 billion. This includes doubling the current number of rooms available and creating direct employment for 300,000 people.

As well as the Chinese delegation, AHTIC will bring international leaders of the hospitality industry to Sri Lanka. The forum will see three days of high-level discussions with eminent personalities across the region, including speeches by prominent insiders, which offers a unique chance to hear political leaders’ views firsthand and capitalise on opportunities to network with entrepreneurs and other successful individuals. A demonstration of the growing cooperation between the public and private sectors is the opening of the AHTIC networking reception in Colombo hosted by President Sirisena, the conference patron. Prime Minister Wickremesinghe and the Tourism Minister will give the opening speeches as the conference gets under way the following day.

AHTIC will take place from 27-29 November at the Hilton Colombo in Sri Lanka. For the full program visit www.asia-conference.com/programme.