Tour Operators Association of Bangladesh (TOAB) leaders on Thursday demanded that the tourism sector be kept out of the purview of hartal and blockade.

TOAB director Taufik Rahman placed a three-point demand at a press conference held at the office of Bangladesh Tourism Board in Paltan.

The three demands include keeping vehicles carrying tourists out of purview of all sorts of political programmes; ensuring adequate security to foreign tourists; and providing financial compensation to tour operators and hotel owners affected by hartal and blockade.

The TOAB director said, “The tourism sector will incur a loss of Tk 80-100 crore in the next three months, if the sector is not kept out of purview of strikes and blockades.”

He said the period from December to February is the peak tourism season. But many foreign tourists have already cancelled their tours to Bangladesh due to the ongoing indefinite countrywide blockade programme.

CEO of the Bangladesh Tourism Board Akhtaruzzaman Khan Kabir said the tourism sector should be kept out of the purview of all political programmes following the request of the businessmen of the sector.

Leaders of hotels and resort owners also spoke on the occasion.

UNB/LY