Govt plans master-plan for tourism sector: Minister Rashiduzzaman

BARISHAL, Oct 23: Civil Aviation and Tourism Minister M Rashiduzzaman Millat, MP, said on Friday that the government plans to prepare a master-plan for the tourism sector with the help of international planners.  

Bangladesh has around 1,500 tourist spots, including Cox’s Bazar and Kuakata. But these sites generate less revenue than their potential, he said. The government aims to make them more attractive and draw foreign investment.

The minister was speaking at a press briefing in Kuakata of Patuakhali on the occasion of a two-day beach carnival. “Previous governments pursued unplanned development. Projects were used only for looting public money. Our goal is planned development,” he said. 

In the press briefing in Kuakata, Planning State Minister Zunaid Abdur Rahim Saki said the Planning Ministry had recently approved the Bhanga-Barishal four-lane road project. He said it could receive approval from the Executive Committee of the National Economic Council (ECNEC) in the first week of November. The government also plans to widen the Barishal-Kuakata highway to four lanes, he said. The projects are expected to improve road connectivity across the southern region.

Local MP ABM Mosharraf Hossain and senior officials of the Barishal and Patuakhali administrations attended the meeting. Meanwhile, a two-day beach carnival began in Kuakata on Friday, organised by the Bangladesh Parjatan Corporation. The event has drawn a large number of tourists, leaving rooms fully booked at more than 300 hotels, motels and resorts and creating an accommodation crunch.

The carnival features beach football, a beach marathon, kite flying, an art competition, volleyball and celebrity beach cricket. Cultural shows, folk music, a fashion show and fireworks are also part of the programme. Organisers said around 1 lakh tourists and visitors had registered to attend the carnival and take part in its events.