BITTE-2022 kicks off

The resources we have including the world’s longest natural sea beach in Cox’s Bazar and the largest mangrove forest of Sundarbans in Bangladesh can attract tourists from all over the world, said State Minister of Civil Aviation and Tourism Ministry Md Mahbub Ali.

Bangladesh can be one of the most attractive tourist destinations in the world if we can make good use of the potential we have in every corner of the country, he said while talking to reporters after inaugurating the 3-day Bangladesh International Travel and Tourism Expo (BITTE) at Bangabandhu International Conference Centre in the capital on Thursday.

Mahbub Ali said, “Foreign tourists must come to the country if we can find out and properly meet their needs. They have come to this country in the past and will continue to come in the future.”

Mentioning that the government is formulating a master plan to develop the tourism sector, the state minister said, “The initiative was undertaken in 2019, but the two-year-long Covid-19 pandemic hindered the work. Now, it is in the final stage. It will probably be submitted by December.”

Mahbub Ali said the government and private sector are working together to develop the tourism sector. Creating a thriving tourism sector is the top priority now.

The BITTE will play a significant role in branding Bangladesh as a favorable destination for global tourists, he hoped.

The Association of Travel Agents of Bangladesh (ATAB) organised the fair and Air Astra, the country’s new private airliner, is sponsoring it. The fair will continue till next Saturday.

The Tourism Expo will run from 10 am to 7 pm on December 1-3 and three seminars on different topics will be organized.

Tourism sector representatives from more than 15 countries including India, Malaysia, Bhutan, Nepal, Maldives, Oman, Sri Lanka, Turkey, Azerbaijan, South Korea, Vietnam, Singapore, and the United Arab Emirates are participating in the expo.

Representatives from various airlines, hospitals, tourism boards, travel agencies, tour operators, hotels, resorts, cruise liners, and other travel and tourism service providers are taking part in the tourism expo.

Organisers said through participating in the expo, business connections and relationships will be created between travel agents and tour operators. Besides, the country’s people will get the opportunity to know about global travel information, packages, and air tickets.

Civil Aviation and Tourism Ministry Secretary Md Mokammel Hossain and the Civil Aviation Authority, Bangladesh Chairman Air Vice Marshal M Mafidur Rahman were special guests at the opening ceremony of the expo.