‘Private sector playing vital role in developing tourism’

Civil Aviation and Tourism State Minister Md Mahbub Ali on Monday said the private sector was playing an important role in moving forward the tourism sector of the country.

The government only provides policy support. It is ready to provide all kinds of policy supports to them, he said.

If the tourism master plan is completed in December, it will see an overall development in the country’s tourism industry, said the state minister.

If the tourism industry develops, the country’s GDP will also increase, he made the statement as the chief guest at the inauguration ceremony of ‘Salna Tourism Resort and Picnic Spot of Bangladesh Tourism Corporation in Gazipur on Monday.

Mahbub Ali said there was no thinking about the tourism sector in the past but now we are thinking about the sector because no one wants to be left behind in the current world.

“Everyone is moving forward in tourism. So why do we lag behind? We also want to move forward. That is why we need to present our tourism to the world. Everyone from the private sector should come forward in the development of tourism,” he said.

Secretary of Civil Aviation and Tourism Ministry Mokammel Hossain said tourism is an industry which has great potential. And everyone should cooperate in the development of this industry.

The high officials of the ministry and corporation were present at the programme.

The construction of Salna Tourism Resort and Picnic Spot was built at a cost of Tk9.4 crore. The construction began in January 2019 and ended on June 30 this year.

This Salna resort is built on 3.12 acres of land. The resort is located in Dakshin Salna of Gazipur just opposite the Bangabandhu Agricultural University on the Dhaka-Mymensingh Highway, 33 km north of Dhaka.

There are six modern cottages, restaurant, pastry and coffee corner, conference hall and two picnics sheds. There are also amusement facilities and rides for children.