It was about this exact time last year when I came across Mr. Fen-Sun Wang, a Chinese tourist from the city of Haikou in Hainan province, China in an evening at the Expo grounds.That day being his fourth one probably made him one of the most frequent foreign pilgrims to the festival back then. Although impressed about the new and interesting features of Eritreans he learned each time, he had one major complaint.

“There should be maps in both local and English languages, so that people and foreigners in particular, can go wherever and whenever they want,” he had recommended.

Wondering if the National Holidays Coordinating Committee (NHCC) had ever thought about it, I had written in one of my articles last year that we would wait and see in the next festival.

Sure enough, this year the NHCC had fixed colored maps and list of the events and their itineraries on the walls of some of the major buildings at Expo, thus making it easier for visitors to move around with no difficulty.

I casually asked for people’s comments on the issue and this is what some had to say:

“The list of programs help you decide which event to follow and where or what time. So I think they did a very good job this year,” said Efrem Belay, who was there with two youngsters who came from the Diaspora.

Simone Vitali, whom I found visiting the Ministry of Defense pavilion with his wife, also shares the same opinion.

“This is my first time to visit Expo and it really helps to have a map tell you exactly where to find a certain place,” said instead Elen Girmay, 25, who came from Germany.

“I know it is exhausting to synchronize schedules and places at a daily basis, but still they have managed to provide almost detailed information of what is going on and where,” she added.

The maps were not the only new addition to this year’s festival; as various other activities introduced this year also render it different. Karate matches, chess competitions among others can be mentioned.

An effort taken to provide visitors with fish at a reasonable price is I think worth mentioning.

The National Fisheries Corporation set up its own place where people can get fresh sandwiches of grilled fish for the fair price of 15 Nakfa each. A huge truck stationed right in front of the restaurant, with the corporation’s logo imprinted on both sides, sells frozen shrimps and fillet fish at a reasonable price of 60 and 45 Nakfa respectively. A brochure outlining different fish recipes and a leaflet campaigning for the adoption of fish as part of our diet are also handed out freely to customers.

“The price of fish in downtown Asmara is almost as twice as here, so it is really an advantageous offer given to us,” said Sebene Hailemariam.

Saying that not many people frequent fish in their culinary habits, she recommended the Ministry of Fisheries and the corporation to keep on campaigning as well as providing the fish to markets at a lower price.

With flurry of other activities taking place everywhere within the Expo grounds, the festival continues vigorously.