Gazi Anowarul Hoque :
The Civil Aviation and Tourism Ministry had initiated various promotional activities to increase the number of foreign tourists to 10 lakh by 2016. But all the activities were lurked boosting tourism in the country, say industry insiders.
The ministry declared 2016 as “Tourism Year” in a bid to help boost Bangladesh’s tourism sector.
For this, the ministry got Tk 372 crore for the fiscal 2015-16 compared to just Tk 160 crore in FY15 for promotional activities. An integrated plan was formulated to develop tourism in Cox’s Bazar, Teknaf, Saint Martin’s Island and Moheshkhali.
As part of the promotional campaign, the government was to hold a regional tourism conference in October this year, inviting participants from foreign countries, such as India, Cambodia, Malaysia, Nepal and Bhutan, said Civil Aviation and Tourism Secretary Khurshed Alam Chowdhury.
All the promotional initiatives of the ministry are running as usual, he said.
Mentionable, Civil Aviation and Tourism Minister Rashed Khan Menon had told the inaugural function of ‘Dhaka Travel Mart 2015’ that Bangladesh has immense potential in attracting
travelers, due to its rich cultural heritage and famous tourist spots, such as Cox’s Bazar and the Sundarbans.
He said that his ministry would focus on health and religions for flourishing tourism. The country has several religious sites for Muslims, Hindus and Buddhists, he said. “The number of tourists will obviously increase if we can develop such sites.”
Shahid Hamid, Chairman of Pacific Asia Travel Association, Bangladesh Chapter told The New Nation on Monday, “Only budget allocation cannot develop the tourism sector. It needed government-private coordinated efforts.”
Our neighboring countries like India, Nepal and Thailand have attracted 90 per cent domestic and regional tourists. Bangladesh has failed to do it. Bangladesh Parjatan Corporation should work with the domestic tourists for cheap travel, he suggested.
The government should declare the sector as “Thrust Sector” because it has the most probability after garment sector. Hospitality and tourism subjects in honours level should be opened at all public universities, national university colleges. Otherwise, our local hotels will be operated by foreign people, Hamid said.
“We want planned spending of the fund on developing tourism infrastructures, connectivity and branding Bangladesh,” Director of Tour Operators Association of Bangladesh (TOAB) Shiblul Azam Koreshi said.
The sector suffered a serious setback during the last peak season due to terrorism, when just about 2.5 lakh foreign tourists came. Law and order situation has now been developed as we expected. Many tourists will visit Bangladesh this year, he hoped.
Growth of domestic tourism has a multiplier effect on the economy as it benefits different sectors such as hotels, airlines and small businesses, he added.
Last year, 5.94 lakh tourists came to the country, according to industry insiders.
Spending by domestic tourists is expected to grow by 6 per cent year-on-year in 2015 to Tk 51,770 crore, World Travel and Tourism Council said in its latest study.
The Civil Aviation and Tourism Ministry had initiated various promotional activities to increase the number of foreign tourists to 10 lakh by 2016. But all the activities were lurked boosting tourism in the country, say industry insiders.
The ministry declared 2016 as “Tourism Year” in a bid to help boost Bangladesh’s tourism sector.
For this, the ministry got Tk 372 crore for the fiscal 2015-16 compared to just Tk 160 crore in FY15 for promotional activities. An integrated plan was formulated to develop tourism in Cox’s Bazar, Teknaf, Saint Martin’s Island and Moheshkhali.
As part of the promotional campaign, the government was to hold a regional tourism conference in October this year, inviting participants from foreign countries, such as India, Cambodia, Malaysia, Nepal and Bhutan, said Civil Aviation and Tourism Secretary Khurshed Alam Chowdhury.
All the promotional initiatives of the ministry are running as usual, he said.
Mentionable, Civil Aviation and Tourism Minister Rashed Khan Menon had told the inaugural function of ‘Dhaka Travel Mart 2015’ that Bangladesh has immense potential in attracting
travelers, due to its rich cultural heritage and famous tourist spots, such as Cox’s Bazar and the Sundarbans.
He said that his ministry would focus on health and religions for flourishing tourism. The country has several religious sites for Muslims, Hindus and Buddhists, he said. “The number of tourists will obviously increase if we can develop such sites.”
Shahid Hamid, Chairman of Pacific Asia Travel Association, Bangladesh Chapter told The New Nation on Monday, “Only budget allocation cannot develop the tourism sector. It needed government-private coordinated efforts.”
Our neighboring countries like India, Nepal and Thailand have attracted 90 per cent domestic and regional tourists. Bangladesh has failed to do it. Bangladesh Parjatan Corporation should work with the domestic tourists for cheap travel, he suggested.
The government should declare the sector as “Thrust Sector” because it has the most probability after garment sector. Hospitality and tourism subjects in honours level should be opened at all public universities, national university colleges. Otherwise, our local hotels will be operated by foreign people, Hamid said.
“We want planned spending of the fund on developing tourism infrastructures, connectivity and branding Bangladesh,” Director of Tour Operators Association of Bangladesh (TOAB) Shiblul Azam Koreshi said.
The sector suffered a serious setback during the last peak season due to terrorism, when just about 2.5 lakh foreign tourists came. Law and order situation has now been developed as we expected. Many tourists will visit Bangladesh this year, he hoped.
Growth of domestic tourism has a multiplier effect on the economy as it benefits different sectors such as hotels, airlines and small businesses, he added.
Last year, 5.94 lakh tourists came to the country, according to industry insiders.
Spending by domestic tourists is expected to grow by 6 per cent year-on-year in 2015 to Tk 51,770 crore, World Travel and Tourism Council said in its latest study.
