Home ›› 28 Dec 2021 ›› Front
Air travel has surged in recent months over the ease of Covid-related restrictions while the three international airports in the country have gathered momentum in dealing with inbound and outbound passengers.
With the ease of travel restrictions, migrant labour are going to their overseas job destinations in droves, while Bangladeshi expatriates have started returning home as the winter holidays in western countries have set in.
A significant number of Bangladeshis are returning from the USA, Canada, Europe, and Australia.
According to the Civil Aviation Authority, a total of 7,56,987 passengers arrived from June to October through three international airports.
At the same time, a total of 6,80,003 passengers departed for multiple destinations – either for holidaymaking and tourism or for jobs abroad.
The statistics on air transportation shows that Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport logged 7,08,631 arriving passengers – 99,648 in June, 1,00,301 in July, 1,29,115 in August, 1,72,692 in September and 2,08,675 in October.
At the same time, the total departure was 6,43,418 through the prime airport of the country. Of the total, 65,875 passengers flew to their international destinations in June, 62,337 in July, 1,09,225 in August, 1,85,620 in September, and 2,20,361 in October.
Besides, there were 48,358 inbound passengers and 36,585 outbound through Shah Amanat International Airport in port city and Osmani International Airport in Sylhet.
Aviation and travel expert Kazi Wahidul Alam, also editor of The Bangladesh Monitor, said: “Air transportation -- both inbound and outbound -- will see a spike in 2022.”
“Usually, expatriates from western countries return home during winter vacation. The departure rate will be more in the next few months.”
Besides, the Indian High Commission in Dhaka has issued around 5 lakh medical visas from September to October; international borders are gradually opening up for migrant workers and for tourists for which the airports will pass busy time handling passengers in recent months, observed Wahidul.
Meanwhile, a significant number of Bangladeshis are going to the UAE on visit visas to attend “Expo 2020” hosted by Dubai from October 1, 2021 to March 31, 2022.
Manpower exporters say hundreds of migrants have gone to the Middle-East countries for jobs, and a lot more are waiting to fly; the year of 2022 will be a year of immense potential for manpower export and tourism.
Shameem Ahmed Chowdhury Noman, ex-secretary general of Bangladesh Association of International Recruiting Agencies (BAIRA), told The Business Post that Malaysia and Hong Kong have opened their labour market for Bangladeshis, and this trend will continue.
Besides, people are opting to hang out in multiple destinations after keeping themselves shut in home for months due to the pandemic, he said.
ShareTrip Assistant Manager Nazrul Islam Sumon pointed out that the top tourism destinations of Bangladeshis include Maldives, Nepal, Sri Langka and Dubai.
He hopes that the number of both inbound and outbound passengers will increase 10 to 15 per cent over the next two months, but the rate of arrival of foreign tourists is almost a zero.
Touhidul Alam Milky, chief executive officer of Akashbari Holidays, a travel and tourism agent, informed this correspondent that Malaysia, Singapore, Thailand, Indonesia still hold travel restrictions; when they will withdraw it, outbound passenger flow will increase.
