COLOMBO: The Maldives is gearing up to host the 19th edition of the Hotel Asia Exhibition and International Culinary Challenge from 20 to 22 October 2025, a landmark event poised to reinforce the nation’s status as a global hospitality hub. This year’s gathering, held at the Synthetic Track in Hulhumalé and the Maldives National University in Malé, promises to be a vibrant celebration of culinary artistry, innovation, and regional partnerships, with Sri Lanka taking a prominent role.
The event kicks off with the much-anticipated International Culinary Challenge on 19 October, where top chefs and emerging talents from across the Maldives and beyond will compete in electrifying live showdowns. Supported by four professional kitchens facilitated by the Maldives National University, the competition is set to elevate the hot cooking sections, showcasing culinary excellence on an international stage. The exhibition itself, running from 20 to 22 October, will feature 300 stalls representing 48 countries, including Maldives, Sri Lanka, India, China, Thailand, UAE, USA, and Switzerland. This global convergence of industry leaders, resorts, restaurants, and food and beverage innovators underscores the event’s growing influence since its inception in 2000 with just 42 stalls.
Sri Lanka’s participation is a highlight, with a dedicated pavilion organised by the Sri Lanka Export Development Board and the Sri Lanka–Maldives Business Council. This showcase will spotlight the nation’s advancements in food, hospitality, wellness, and sustainability, capitalising on the Maldives’ tourism surge, which saw 587,000 visitors by 31 March 2025—a 5.6% increase from the previous year, driven by arrivals from China, Russia, and the UK. The pavilion aims to strengthen trade ties and foster collaboration, aligning with the Maldives’ ambition to welcome 2.2 million tourists by year-end, supported by its robust infrastructure of 65,448 beds across resorts, guesthouses, hotels, and safari vessels.
At a press briefing held recently at the Ceylon Chamber of Commerce in Colombo, Maldives High Commissioner Masood Imad called for a revitalisation of the historic partnership between the two nations. “Many Sri Lankans don’t even understand Maldivian tourists,” he remarked, reflecting on the drift in relations since the 1950s and 1960s when Maldive fish was a cherished export to Sri Lanka and Ceylon Tours championed Maldivian tourism. Imad urged for renewed collaboration, dismissing outdated perceptions and encouraging Sri Lankans to view the Maldives as a premier leisure destination.
Suren Ediriweera, Managing Director of Ceylon Tours, echoed this sentiment, advocating for cooperation over competition. “World tourism is a huge market. Why shouldn’t Sri Lanka and the Maldives collaborate instead of competing?” he said, highlighting the potential for joint travel packages and dual-destination promotions. Sudesh Mendis, President of the Sri Lanka–Maldives Business Council, challenged stereotypes about the Maldives’ economy. “Male is still viewed by many Sri Lankans as a country that only dries fish. But the Maldives has transformed into a global tourism and logistics hub,” he noted, pushing for a modernised perspective.
High Commissioner Imad expressed optimism that Hotel Asia 2025 could herald a new chapter in bilateral relations. “It’s time to reset relations in tourism collaboration as joint travel packages, dual-destination promotions, and a more welcoming visa process by the authorities could attract more Maldivian tourists to Sri Lanka. We don’t have to look at each other as competitors,” he insisted. “We must look at each other as brothers.”
