Sanwar Hossain :
Bangladesh should focus on attracting foreign direct investment (FDI) for tourism infrastructure development during the upcoming 10th Islamic Conference of Tourism Ministers (ICTM), experts recommended.
The ICTM includes a strategic roadmap for development of Islamic Tourism in OIC member countries and a study on Muslim friendly tourism branding in the global market needed to further implement the OIC framework under reference during the next two years at Pan Pacific Sonargaon Hotel from 5-7 February 2018 with the theme “Promoting Regional Integration through Tourism”.
The Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) consists of 57 Muslim countries of the globe. The OIC is the second largest inter-governmental organization after the United Nations spread over four continents. The organization is the collective voice of the Muslim world. It endeavors to safeguard and protect the interests of the Muslim world in the spirit of promoting international peace and harmony globally.
“Bangladesh as a member of OIC should capitalize the potential of developing Islamic Tourism in the country through the ICTM and attract more international Islamic tourists to the country,” Chairperson of Dhaka University, Department of Tourism and Hospitality Management Dr Sarker Ahmed.
He said, Bangladesh is rich with its Islamic culture, events, heritage and sites which could attract international Islamic tourists and earn foreign exchanges. Adequate exposure, branding and promotion may help develop the sector. Government will formulate policies and implement branding strategies. But the private sector has to work simultaneously for attracting tourist and enrich the sector.
“Besides attracting international tourist we need to emphasize on attracting foreign direct investments (FDI) for developing tourism infrastructures, hotels, resorts and conservation of heritage sites in the country,” Dr Sarker added.
“The ICTM is a great opportunity for Bangladesh to expose its potential to the global leaders and promote tourism sector of the country. We can promote scopes of Halal tourism, Islamic tourism products, Arts and Crafts and events like Esteema to establish Bangladesh as a destination of Islamic cultural tourism,” he pointed out.
Dr Sarker also emphasized that OIC member countries need to prioritize the search for capital investment to help them build the roads, airports, hotels, and leisure facilities needed to attract visitors in large numbers and Bangladesh should work on the issues with priority.
According to OIC, planned and managed properly, Islamic tourism could play a significant role in revitalizing the economic development and growth and hence, spread the prosperity across OIC member states. This is in addition to the current efforts in promoting Islamic Tourism brand, the value of which is currently estimated at $151 billion and a projection of $ 243 billion in 2021.
Some of the challenges acting as bar for developing OIC tourism are lack of peace and stability, weak infrastructural base, weak and non-existent regulations and standards as well as lack of promotional tourism programs.
During the 10th session leaders will focus on the selection of the OIC City of Tourism Award (2019 and 2020); Islamic Tourism Development; Progress on Tourism Infrastructure Projects; OIC Tourism Fairs; and Reconstitution of the Tourism Coordination Committee besides preparation of a study on Islamic Tourism Branding in the Global Market, convening of the OIC Forum on Islamic Tourism.
It will address following issues like development national Islamic tourism indicators for collection, processing, and dissemination of Islamic tourism data; Strengthening national statistical systems; formulating and implementing national policy and regulations for the development of Islamic tourism market; Promoting Islamic tourism hotels and tour agencies in OIC countries and enriching the online and offline content for Islamic tourism products and services, improving networking among Islamic tourism service providers in OIC Member States, improving human resources quality in Islamic tourism industry, standardization and Certification, raising awareness on the importance and potentials of the Islamic tourism industry, mapping best practices and developing joint-capacity building program, boost investments in the Islamic tourism industry, easing visa polices to improve intra-OIC tourism especially in the Islamic tourism industry.
The 10th ICTM including a Strategic Roadmap for Development of Islamic Tourism in OIC Member Countries and a Study on Muslim Friendly Tourism Branding in the Global Market needed to further implement the OIC Framework under reference during the next two years.
In addition, the ICTM will discuss the following subjects are selection of the OIC City of Tourism Award (2019 and 2020); Islamic Tourism Development; Progress on Tourism Infrastructure Projects; OIC Tourism Fairs; and Reconstitution of the Tourism Coordination Committee.
Bangladesh should focus on attracting foreign direct investment (FDI) for tourism infrastructure development during the upcoming 10th Islamic Conference of Tourism Ministers (ICTM), experts recommended.
The ICTM includes a strategic roadmap for development of Islamic Tourism in OIC member countries and a study on Muslim friendly tourism branding in the global market needed to further implement the OIC framework under reference during the next two years at Pan Pacific Sonargaon Hotel from 5-7 February 2018 with the theme “Promoting Regional Integration through Tourism”.
The Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) consists of 57 Muslim countries of the globe. The OIC is the second largest inter-governmental organization after the United Nations spread over four continents. The organization is the collective voice of the Muslim world. It endeavors to safeguard and protect the interests of the Muslim world in the spirit of promoting international peace and harmony globally.
“Bangladesh as a member of OIC should capitalize the potential of developing Islamic Tourism in the country through the ICTM and attract more international Islamic tourists to the country,” Chairperson of Dhaka University, Department of Tourism and Hospitality Management Dr Sarker Ahmed.
He said, Bangladesh is rich with its Islamic culture, events, heritage and sites which could attract international Islamic tourists and earn foreign exchanges. Adequate exposure, branding and promotion may help develop the sector. Government will formulate policies and implement branding strategies. But the private sector has to work simultaneously for attracting tourist and enrich the sector.
“Besides attracting international tourist we need to emphasize on attracting foreign direct investments (FDI) for developing tourism infrastructures, hotels, resorts and conservation of heritage sites in the country,” Dr Sarker added.
“The ICTM is a great opportunity for Bangladesh to expose its potential to the global leaders and promote tourism sector of the country. We can promote scopes of Halal tourism, Islamic tourism products, Arts and Crafts and events like Esteema to establish Bangladesh as a destination of Islamic cultural tourism,” he pointed out.
Dr Sarker also emphasized that OIC member countries need to prioritize the search for capital investment to help them build the roads, airports, hotels, and leisure facilities needed to attract visitors in large numbers and Bangladesh should work on the issues with priority.
According to OIC, planned and managed properly, Islamic tourism could play a significant role in revitalizing the economic development and growth and hence, spread the prosperity across OIC member states. This is in addition to the current efforts in promoting Islamic Tourism brand, the value of which is currently estimated at $151 billion and a projection of $ 243 billion in 2021.
Some of the challenges acting as bar for developing OIC tourism are lack of peace and stability, weak infrastructural base, weak and non-existent regulations and standards as well as lack of promotional tourism programs.
During the 10th session leaders will focus on the selection of the OIC City of Tourism Award (2019 and 2020); Islamic Tourism Development; Progress on Tourism Infrastructure Projects; OIC Tourism Fairs; and Reconstitution of the Tourism Coordination Committee besides preparation of a study on Islamic Tourism Branding in the Global Market, convening of the OIC Forum on Islamic Tourism.
It will address following issues like development national Islamic tourism indicators for collection, processing, and dissemination of Islamic tourism data; Strengthening national statistical systems; formulating and implementing national policy and regulations for the development of Islamic tourism market; Promoting Islamic tourism hotels and tour agencies in OIC countries and enriching the online and offline content for Islamic tourism products and services, improving networking among Islamic tourism service providers in OIC Member States, improving human resources quality in Islamic tourism industry, standardization and Certification, raising awareness on the importance and potentials of the Islamic tourism industry, mapping best practices and developing joint-capacity building program, boost investments in the Islamic tourism industry, easing visa polices to improve intra-OIC tourism especially in the Islamic tourism industry.
The 10th ICTM including a Strategic Roadmap for Development of Islamic Tourism in OIC Member Countries and a Study on Muslim Friendly Tourism Branding in the Global Market needed to further implement the OIC Framework under reference during the next two years.
In addition, the ICTM will discuss the following subjects are selection of the OIC City of Tourism Award (2019 and 2020); Islamic Tourism Development; Progress on Tourism Infrastructure Projects; OIC Tourism Fairs; and Reconstitution of the Tourism Coordination Committee.
