Tourism takes a body blow

Despite the absence of world class facilities at tourist spots, once both foreign and local visitors kept these places abuzz with their colourful presence throughout the year. The owners of such spots and resorts strived hard to make their guests happy with their services. But things have taken a turn for the worse in the recent months. With internal and international tourism coming to a halt and resorts reporting almost zero occupancy these days, owners are finding it difficult to survive in the present conditions.

These tourist spots and resorts were used for wedding, corporate meeting, film shooting, political meeting, holding social events and picnics and so on. Reportedly, business was moderate even last year but with frequent lockdown and spread of Covid-19 throughout the country in the recent months, hardly visitors show eagerness to book the spots. The huge number of staff has now become a burden on the owners. Some resorts reported retrenchment of nearly 30 per cent of the staff in recent months. They fear further job cuts if the Covid-19 threat does not wane substantially in a month or two. Evidently, Bangladesh's tourism industry is facing an existential crisis. Some four million people and their family members who depend for their livelihood on this sector have been facing the most difficult times. It is an economic imperative that the government save this important service sector that employs hundreds of thousands of people and thus makes significant contribution to the economy.

Tourist spots and resorts are places where people throng to pass leisure time with friends and close kins. Resorts are places where people stay over for many nights to relax and enjoy the beauty of the locale. But, authorities believe, such mingling perceptibly increases the possibility of infecting large number of visitors. As a result, everything has been brought under the lockdown policy to save lives at the moment. It is really like a double-edged sword. If we worry about livelihood and open shops we get infected by the deadly virus. And if we worry about our lives amidst the pandemic we lose our livelihood.  Striking the perfect balance is the need of the hour.

Tourism fetches a substantial amount of foreign currency every year. But this sector has the potential of earning much more had our tourist sites and accommodation facilities been of international standard. While we earned only USD 59 million in 2003, the figure went up to USD 391 million in December 2019. The figures clearly indicate that revenue increase is commensurate with infrastructure development like good roads, improvement of food and lodging at sites, opening up international standard resorts and assurance of full security 24 hours. Foreign tourists also prefer to enjoy local cultural events hence tourist operators should organize colorful events with the collaboration of local Shilpakola Academy and private organizations.

The owners of tourist spots and resorts need full support of the government to survive in the present abnormal situation. Thankfully the government included the sector in the announced stimulus package. We hope banks and other financial institutes will come forward with helping hands. We have to keep in mind that this sector has the potential to grow, expand and earn both local and foreign currency and employ a large number of young people. With better roads and highways coming up and high standard resorts already existing, there is no reason the sector should not be able to fetch millions like before.