13th Asian Tourism Fair opens in city

The 13th Asian Tourism Fair started on Thursday in Dhaka’s International Convention Centre of Basundhara. The three-day fair features more than 200 organisations and institutions from 10 countries, showcasing tourism destinations, products, services and investment opportunities through nearly 300 stalls.

Civil Aviation and Tourism Minister M Rashiduzzaman Millat inaugurated the event calling for greater investment, stronger public-private cooperation and coordinated efforts to develop Bangladesh’s tourism industry. 

Addressing the inaugural ceremony at 11am, the minister said the government is working to formulate a comprehensive Tourism Master Plan incorporating around 1,498 tourism attractions and destinations of different categories.

“Through this plan, we are taking initiatives to develop the country’s tourism resources gradually under an integrated framework,” he said.

Millat also highlighted the government’s plan to develop Cox’s Bazar as a regional tourism hub.

He said Cox’s Bazar has significant potential to attract international investment and tourists by developing world-class tourism infrastructure, services, entertainment facilities and investment opportunities around its renowned long sandy sea beach.

Our goal is to raise contribution of the tourism sector to gross domestic product: Millat 

The minister said the government’s new tourism policy would place particular emphasis on private-sector investment and public-private partnerships (PPPs). “Our goal is to raise the contribution of the tourism sector to 8 to 9 percent of the country’s gross domestic product,” Millat said.

He said achieving the target would require well-planned investment, skilled human resources, modern infrastructure, improved services, effective marketing and internationally recognised tourism management. 

“No country can sustainably develop its tourism industry without a joint commitment from the public and private sectors,” he said, urging all stakeholders to work together to strengthen Bangladesh’s position in the global tourism market.