Thai hotel chain intends to invest Tk 30b in Bangladesh
FE Report | Wednesday, 4 March 2009
Centara Hotel and Resort, a Thailand-based hotel and resort chain, plans to operate its business in Bangladesh mainly in hospitality industry and retail chain by investing Tk 30 billion, its Vice President John Marc Garet told reporters.
He along with other high officials was speaking at a city hotel with local journalists on its business plan Tuesday.
"We want to tap the growing Bangladesh market especially in the field of hotel and retail business chain," said John Marc Garet.
The company wants to start its business in Bangladesh within this year and it has plan to invest the estimated amount within the next few years.
Centara Hotels and Resort was established in 1980 with the objective of developing hotels. Its turnover in 2007 was US$ 224.43 million.
Apart from operating a chain of leading city hotels in Bangkok as well as premier resorts in key tourist locations in Thailand, it also operates five major quick service restaurants.
Mr John, however, said his company now intends to take the charge of Dhaka Sheraton Hotel as its present contract will expire on March 31.
Centara Hotel and Resort participated in a bid to operate the Dhaka Sheraton Hotel and it claimed that only the company had experience in running five-star hotels in the world out of six participants.
Mr John said there is ample opportunity in Bangladesh's tourism sector as foreign tourists are increasingly getting attracted to seeing the natural beauty in Bangladesh.
He also said his company has plan to invest in the hotel business in Dhaka, Cox's Bazar and Kuakata.
Meanwhile, the Royal Thai Embassy in Dhaka Tuesday announced that all Bangladeshi and foreign nationals who apply for tourists and medical visas from Dhaka will be exempted from visa fees between March 5 and June 4, 2009 to promote tourism.
This was disclosed by Thai Ambassador in Bangladesh Chalermpol Thanchitt at a press conference organised by Centara Hotel and Resort of Thailand for promoting tourism to that country.
The Thai ambassador also said the arrangement will not be applicable to other types of visa applicants and nor to the service charge collected by VFS, the Thai Visa application processing centre.
Information on Thailand's visa is available on the ministry of Foreign Affairs website (www.mfa.go.th).
He along with other high officials was speaking at a city hotel with local journalists on its business plan Tuesday.
"We want to tap the growing Bangladesh market especially in the field of hotel and retail business chain," said John Marc Garet.
The company wants to start its business in Bangladesh within this year and it has plan to invest the estimated amount within the next few years.
Centara Hotels and Resort was established in 1980 with the objective of developing hotels. Its turnover in 2007 was US$ 224.43 million.
Apart from operating a chain of leading city hotels in Bangkok as well as premier resorts in key tourist locations in Thailand, it also operates five major quick service restaurants.
Mr John, however, said his company now intends to take the charge of Dhaka Sheraton Hotel as its present contract will expire on March 31.
Centara Hotel and Resort participated in a bid to operate the Dhaka Sheraton Hotel and it claimed that only the company had experience in running five-star hotels in the world out of six participants.
Mr John said there is ample opportunity in Bangladesh's tourism sector as foreign tourists are increasingly getting attracted to seeing the natural beauty in Bangladesh.
He also said his company has plan to invest in the hotel business in Dhaka, Cox's Bazar and Kuakata.
Meanwhile, the Royal Thai Embassy in Dhaka Tuesday announced that all Bangladeshi and foreign nationals who apply for tourists and medical visas from Dhaka will be exempted from visa fees between March 5 and June 4, 2009 to promote tourism.
This was disclosed by Thai Ambassador in Bangladesh Chalermpol Thanchitt at a press conference organised by Centara Hotel and Resort of Thailand for promoting tourism to that country.
The Thai ambassador also said the arrangement will not be applicable to other types of visa applicants and nor to the service charge collected by VFS, the Thai Visa application processing centre.
Information on Thailand's visa is available on the ministry of Foreign Affairs website (www.mfa.go.th).