Staff Reporter:
The government is emphasising public-private partnerships (PPP) and increased investment to turn Bangladesh’s tourism potential into a planned, sustainable and internationally competitive industry, Civil Aviation and Tourism Minister M Rashiduzzaman Millat said on Thursday.
“Almost every region of Bangladesh has its own tourism potential. These possibilities need to be utilised in a planned manner,” the minister said while addressing the inaugural ceremony of the three-day 13th Asian Tourism Fair in Dhaka as the chief guest.
He said Bangladesh has diverse tourism resources, including rivers, hills, the sea and forests.
These include the Sundarbans, the world’s largest mangrove forest, the long natural sea beach at Cox’s Bazar and Kuakata, along with other attractive tourist destinations across the country, he said.
Sylhet’s tea gardens, rivers and wetlands, as well as archaeological and religious heritage sites, are also important tourism assets, he added.
The minister said tourism potential is not confined to a few established destinations, noting that almost every region of the country has its own story and tourism prospects.
He said the government’s goal is to turn these possibilities into a planned, sustainable and internationally competitive tourism industry.
He said work is underway on a master plan covering various categories of tourist attractions, with emphasis on private investment and public-private partnerships in the sector.
Millat said tourism development is not merely an administrative priority but also a political commitment of the current government. He said it forms part of a broader plan for economic diversification, job creation and balanced regional development.
Outlining plans to develop Cox’s Bazar as a regional tourism hub centred on its long sea beach, the minister said the new Cox’s Bazar International Airport is aimed, among other things, at attracting foreign tourists.
He also said major initiatives could be undertaken in the Sundarbans if the area can be developed under the PPP model.
The minister called for involving local communities alongside the public and private sectors in tourism development.
“Advancing the tourism sector is not possible without the collective effort of all. The government, private sector and local communities must work together to showcase Bangladesh’s tourism in the international market,” he said.
Stressing the need to further increase tourism’s contribution to the economy, Millat urged all stakeholders to come forward with new, innovative and cost-effective ideas.
Ambassadors and high commissioners from various countries, development partners, investors and tourism industry stakeholders attended the event.
Organisers said the tourism fair will continue until 19 September and remain open daily from 10:00am to 7:00pm. More than 200 organisations from 10 countries, including Bangladesh, are taking part, with around 300 booths at the fair.
