Tourism potential

It is widely acknowledged that Bangladesh’s tourism industry can provide a much-needed shot in the arm of the country’s economy. Surely, there is no dearth of breathtaking natural landscapes in the country, and few can compete with traditional Bangladeshi hospitality.

Unfortunately, international tourism is yet to pick up steam in this country and Bangladesh remains excluded from the list of nations that people want to visit at least once in their lifetime. As with other industries, tourism too cannot flourish without proper planning, investment, marketing and sound government policies. Despite the growth of the domestic tourism industry, many popular destinations lack modern amenities.

It must be admitted that there are many limitations and bureaucratic tangles in the tourism sector due to which Bangladesh is not becoming successful in this sector like other countries.

In a more positive development, the government has said that it is ready to provide all kinds of policy support to them. According to a report published in The Business Post yesterday, the Civil Aviation and Tourism State Minister Md Mahbub Ali on Monday said that the private sector was playing a significant role in moving forward the tourism sector of the country. He made the comments while speaking as a chief guest at the inauguration ceremony of ‘Salna Tourism Resort and Picnic Spot’ of Bangladesh Tourism Corporation in Gazipur. 

“Everyone is moving forward in tourism. So why do we lag? 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.

Proper planning for the tourism sector’s development has become imperative as Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) cannot be achieved by 2030 if tourism does not flourish in Bangladesh. At least 6 SDGs are directly and the rest indirectly related to tourism.

According to experts, there are 109 sectors directly and 1,100 sub-sectors indirectly linked with the tourism industry. Every tourist creates 10 direct and 35 indirect employment opportunities.

Currently, more than 4.5 million people are working in our tourism industry. Experts predict that this sector will continue to create more jobs in the coming years. Nowadays, many professional courses on hotel and hospitality management are available, and those participating in such courses are opting to continue their career in this particular sector.

Our tourism industry is estimated to contribute more than 4 per cent to our GDP. We admit that 4 per cent of the national GDP is by no measure a small figure. Despite having a long list of different drawbacks, it is pretty amazing that the Bangladesh tourism industry has enabled itself to this position today and showing signs of significant growth in the foreseeable future.

Relevant government authorities have set a goal for the next ten years. They want to contribute more than 6 per cent to the GDP. They plan to do that by ensuring new tourist zones for foreigners.

We need to understand that while our domestic tourism continues to grow, the service providers in this field must find innovative ways to increase their capacities. Otherwise, it will be hard to create the same excitement among a particular group of tourists, especially among those who have travelled outside the country. We come across people who had experience travelling abroad talking about how they enjoyed different hospitality services abroad at a minimum cost.

If we are to take tourism seriously, we cannot continue to rely on natural beauty or potential. We need to see what the tourism sector is offering its guests. What food is on offer: is it clean and safe to eat? What music and cultural offerings will we give our guests? How clean and safe is their hotel? Is it a good value for money?

The tourism industry can thrive only in an atmosphere of security and convenience for travellers. This is not always present at
the moment.