Government Working to Build a World-Class Tourism Sector: Minister

The government is working consistently to develop Bangladesh’s tourism sector into a sustainable, modern and world-class industry, said Civil Aviation and Tourism Minister Afroza Khanam.

She made the remarks on Sunday (August 2) while addressing the oath-taking ceremony of the newly elected executive committee of the Tour Operators Association of Bangladesh (TOAB) at Gulshan Club.

Congratulating the new committee, the minister said the leadership would play an important role in expanding the country’s tourism industry. She added that under the leadership of Prime Minister Tarique Rahman, work is underway to formulate an integrated Tourism Master Plan covering 1,498 tourist attractions across the country. The plan will serve as a long-term roadmap for tourism development.

Afroza Khanam said transforming Cox’s Bazar, home to the world’s longest natural sea beach, into a regional tourism hub is one of the government’s top priorities. She also expressed hope that the newly built Cox’s Bazar International Airport would help attract more foreign tourists and boost the sector’s growth.

The minister further revealed that the government is considering special discount facilities for expatriate Bangladeshis at hotels and motels operated by the Bangladesh Tourism Corporation.

She said the government aims to make tourism one of the key drivers of the national economy and increase its contribution to GDP to between 6 and 7 percent. To address the lack of reliable tourism data, initiatives have also been taken to implement a nationwide Tourism Satellite Account (TSA).

The minister called for the cooperation of TOAB and all stakeholders in achieving these goals.