Speakers at a seminar emphasized the need for engagement of community people in tourism to turn it into a sustainable industry.
The seminar on “Role Students and Youths for Evolving Tourism Industry” was organized on Saturday by Bangladesh Youth and Students’ Forum for Tourism Development (BYSFTD) at Dhaka Reporters’ Unity to mark the International Tourism Day.
Speaking at the seminar, Bangladesh Parjatan Corporation (BPC) Chairman Dr Aparup Chowdhury said now is the time to diversify the sector into adventure tourism, religious tourism, health tourism, sports tourism.
“To make the industry sustainable, engagement of community people as well as students and youths is inevitable,” he said.
Mentioning that lack of proper communication is a key hindrance to the devolvement of tourism, the BPC Chairman said they have now concentrated on addressing the issue. “To this end, the government has taken short, medium and long term projects declaring the industry as thrust sector,” he added.
“Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina through gazette notification allocated 35,000 acres of land to be developed as tourist attraction sites,” said he.
He urged people of all strata for responsible behavior during visit to any tourist site.
Bangladesh Tourism Board (BTB) Director Bhuban Chandra Biswas said the BTB is working to formulate a master plan which would be completed next year to explore optimum benefit from each tourist spot in the country.
He underscored the involvement of students and youths in the sector as these groups together represent nearly 67 percent of the total population.
Civil Aviation and Tourism Ministry Joint Secretary A T M Nasir Miah, Hamdard Laboratories (WAQF) Bangladesh Senior Director Dr Rafikul Islam, BYSFTD Chairperson Mostak Alamgir Ratan and Secretary General Bappadittya Basu, among others, spoke on the occasion.
