MICE Int’l Expo, Travel & Hospitality Trade show opens

ADDIS ABABA– THE ETHIOPIAN HERALD Newspaper 10 June 2016: The Meetings, Incentives Travel , Conferences and Exhibitions (MICE) East African International Forum and Expo 2016 and 4th Hotel Show Africa 2016 Hospitality and Tourism Investment Trade Show organized by Ozzie Hospitality and Business Group was opened at the Millennium Hall here yesterday.
Opening the show, President Dr. Mulatu Teshome underlined that the tourism and hospitality sector is becoming one of the lucrative development pillars of countries’ economies in the global arena. Therefore, governments have given due attention to the development of the sector.
Furthermore, the President said that it is obvious that Africa as a continent with amazing tourism potential. Ethiopia could be considered as a country in the region which provide support to the private sector for the development of tourism and hospitality service.
The President said that Ethiopia is the seat of the AU, UNECA, various international organizations and missions which made the country the ideal selection of international meetings, conferences and conventions. Accordingly, the nation needs to have world class standard hotels and hospitality services. Thus, the government is committed to encourage private entities in the MICE industry as it has been doing in the manufacturing and other sectors.
Culture and Tourism Minister Eng. Aisha Mohammed on her part said that such grand forum is very helpful to the country to explore the sector as Ethiopia is the land of origins. She said hospitality business is the major business in the sector of tourism.
According to the Minister, Ethiopia has tremendous tourism destinations and works are underway to develop the sector. As part of the effort, the government is designing viable policies, expanding tourist facilities and providing support to the private sector.
Founder of Ozzie Hospitality and Business Group and Organizer of the event Kumneger Teketel also said that the grand event was organized to modernize the nature-based tourism and hospitality operation in Ethiopia and Africa to make the sector one of the dominant economic sectors and reliable source of foreign currency.
He said that his company is doing its level best to send the message to the international community for exploring the travel and hospitality business here to enhance the sector through sharing the experiences of other countries in such international expo.
He said that modern knowledge and scientific technologies ought to be given priority by government institutions for the advancement of the MICE sector.
The German Company Villeroy & Bonch Hotel and Restaurant Division International Key Account Manager Lloyd Lamprecht told reporters that there were only few shows across Africa mostly in Southern Africa and Morocco. ” But, as the market in Ethiopia is booming these days, we create a good business partners here and come to participate in this new grand expo.” He said that the show could be the premium shows in the East African region.
Hawassa South Star Hotel Sales Representative Fistum Teshome on his part said: ” As we run hotel and motel services far from Addis Ababa, the forum and expo would enable us to create links with the international visitors. It also helps us get best experiences from the various hotels gathered to show their services.”
The International Travel Business that would remain open up to June 12, 2016, is said to be the ever prime event in the region for convening of airlines, corporate travel and event organizers, MICE business executives and professionals, international tourism destination operators and marketers, logistics and catering firms, financial institutions and consultants from across the globe.
BY HAFTU GEBRERZGABIHER