First halal hotel opens in Chiang Mai

CHIANG MAI, January 29 (TNA) - Romena Grand Hotel, the first Muslim hotel and serving halal food in the northern province of Chiang Mai, was officially opened Sunday amid hopes that more Muslim people would visit the province in future. Presided over the official opening were Nigerian, Malaysian, Brunei ambassadors and Saudi Arabian charge d’ affaires to Thailand along with the provincial deputy governor Vorakarn Yosying. The hotel, situated in the heart of the province, is equipped with about 60 guest rooms. Malaysian ambassador to Thailand Dato Nazirah Hussain said he is optimistic that if more campaigns are made on tourism destinations in Chiang Mai, more Malaysians would visit the province. Presently, about 10 million Malaysians visit the province annually and more are expected to travel there, especially in 2015 when Thailand along with its fellow members jointly launch the ASEAN Economic Community (AEC). The Malaysian ambassador said he is confident that more Muslims are expected to visit Chiang Mai after the opening of the hotel which serves halal food. (TNA)