State Minister for Civil Aviation and Tourism Md Mahbub Ali has urged the local administration to make tourism a part of any development project at local levels.
He made the remark while addressing an online workshop organized by Bangladesh Tourism Board with Natore district on Saturday (August 22).
The workshop was organized with the aim of involving tourism in local development plans and creating public awareness about tourism.
He said, local administration will formulate and implement tourism-related projects and development, conservation, construction and renovation of tourist destinations should be done on priority basis.
Regarding development in tourism in the country, he said, “Necessary steps need to be taken to widen all the narrow roads associated with the tourist destination immediately.”
“Historical and archaeological sites and memorials of the great liberation war located in different parts of the country need serious preservation and restoration.”
The minister also emphasized on evicting no local touts and land grabbers from tourist sites.
He said, “Strict action must be taken against those who will damage the historical installations and tourist attractions.”
After being cooped up at homes for months due to Covid-19 shutdown, people are eager to go out and have fun.
Tourist destinations will soon be crowded with tourists. The local administration, therefore, has to ensure that the tourists get proper and suitable environment in all the tourist destinations.
The minister also stressed the importance of public awareness on tourism and urged public representatives, local administration and media personnel to take the matter seriously.
The Ministry of Education will also be requested to include essays on tourism in the textbooks to create public awareness, he added.
A significant portion of the tourists visiting our country are people from neighbouring countries. They visit our historical and religious sites.
Regarding the matter, he said, “Measures will be taken in consultation with the Ministry of Home Affairs to make the process easier for tourist visas for citizens of neighbouring India, Nepal and Bhutan. This will increase the tourist arrivals from the countries concerned.”
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