Annual Culinary Art Food Expo in October to help tourism revival

By Jiwon Jung

Despite the Easter Sunday attacks having an immense negative impact on tourism in Sri Lanka, the annual Culinary Art Food Expo (CAFÉ) will go ahead as scheduled. CAFÉ 2019 will be held from 21 to 23 October at the Sirimavo Bandaranaike Memorial Exhibition Centre at the BMICH. 

Chefs Guild of Lanka President Chef Dimuthu Kumarasinghe

Culinary Art Food Expo (CAFÉ) Chairman Chef Gerard Mendis

Culinary Art Food Expo (CAFÉ) Director Chef Madhawa Weerabaddhana

CAFÉ is organised by the Chefs’ Guild of Lanka with World Association of Chefs’ Societies and CDC Events & Travels. 

This event covers all aspects of food products and services from processing to consuming stage, including culinary, hospitality, and retail segments. The event itself holds great significance since it creates huge opportunities for businesses and tourism industries for Sri Lanka.

CDC Events & Travels CEO/Managing Director Imran Hassan, CAFÉ 2019 Chairman Chef Gerard Mendis, CAFÉ 2019 Director Chef Madhawa Weerabaddhana and Chefs’ Guild of Lanka President Chef Dimuthu Kumarasinghe speaking to the media recently said the event was initially planned to commence on 26 June, but was postponed due to the devastating attacks. 

Despite uncertainty on whether the event would be held at all in Colombo, the authorities and officials of the tourism industry dismissed doubts, confirming that the event would only be postponed until October, having decided to move forward and fight the downturn in Sri Lanka’s tourism.

Mendis, the Chairman of the event, stated that with the staging of this event, the dampened tourism industry would bounce back once again, asserting that hotels would regain their pace, chefs who lost their jobs will get their occupations back, and Sri Lanka tourism will heat up its engine again.

CAFÉ is a comprehensive trade platform for exhibitors from different regions of the world and draws in thousands of buyers and visitors to view and obtain the newest products, services and technology on offer.

The event is certain to have a positive impact on rebuilding both local and international perception of Sri Lanka’s tourism and hospitality sector and contribute to the revival of the economy as well. The event offers exhibitors and sponsors immense networking opportunities and the possibility of realising business goals while satisfying the evolving appetite of the market.

The officials of CAFÉ 2019 emphasised that Sri Lanka’s tourism would regain its footing and continue to grow, positioning the paradise island as a key tourism destination once again.

Pix by Lasantha Kumara