The government aims to raise tourism’s contribution to 8–9 per cent of gross domestic product (GDP), from the present level of 2-3 per cent, Civil Aviation and Tourism Minister M Rashiduzzaman Millat said on Thursday.
It will be done by expanding investment, improving infrastructure and developing new destinations, he said during the inauguration of the 13th Asian Tourism Fair in Dhaka.
The government was preparing a tourism master plan covering 1,498 attractions to develop the sector under a coordinated framework.
“Bangladesh has diverse tourism opportunities. Almost every part of the country has its own history, culture, nature and stories. Our goal is to transform these opportunities into a planned, sustainable and internationally competitive tourism industry,” he said.
The three-day fair features more than 200 organisations from 10 countries, with around 300 stalls showcasing tourism destinations, products, services and investment opportunities.
Millat said tourism had been prioritised as part of the government’s broader agenda for economic diversification, employment creation and balanced regional development.
He said the sector had lacked visible development initiatives over the past two decades, and the government was now focusing on infrastructure development, better services and greater investment.
The minister said Cox’s Bazar would be developed as a regional tourism hub through international-standard infrastructure, improved services and expanded investment opportunities around the world’s longest natural sea beach.
The new tourism policy will focus on private investment and public-private partnerships to accelerate sectoral growth, he said.
Bangladesh’s tourism attractions include the Sundarbans, Cox’s Bazar, the Chattogram Hill Tracts, Sylhet’s tea gardens, rivers and wetlands, as well as archaeological and religious heritage sites. He said Cox’s Bazar International Airport would help attract more international tourists.
“Government and private sector cooperation is essential for sustainable growth of the tourism industry,” Millat said, urging stakeholders to bring innovative and cost-effective ideas.
Among those present were Biman Bangladesh Airlines Managing Director Kaiser Sohel Ahmed, Bangladesh Parjatan Corporation Chairman Md Samimuzzaman, Bangladesh Tourism Board Chief Executive Officer Mutasim Billah Faruqui and Asian Tourism Fair Chairman Md Mohiuddin Helal.
