BTTF 2026 begins tomorrow, offering up to 50pc discounts on tour packages

Travellers will be able to enjoy discounts of up to 50 per cent on selected tour packages, along with reduced airfares and hotel bookings, at the 14th Bangladesh Travel and Tourism Fair (BTTF) 2026, beginning tomorrow (Thursday).

The three-day fair will run from October 29 to 31 at the Bangladesh-China Friendship Conference Centre in Dhaka. Minister for environment, forest and climate change Abdul Awal Mintoo is likely to inaugurate the event, organisers said at a meet-the-press event held at a city hotel on Tuesday.

Organised by the Tour Operators Association of Bangladesh (TOAB), the fair will bring together tourism businesses from more than 20 countries to promote destinations, attract foreign visitors and explore new business opportunities.

US-Bangla Airlines, the title sponsor, will offer discounts of 15 per cent on domestic routes and 12 per cent on international routes, excluding Jeddah, for fair visitors.

The fair will remain open from 10am to 5pm daily. This year's theme is 'AI-Powered Tourism, Sustainable Destination', highlighting the growing role of artificial intelligence, technology and environmental sustainability in the tourism industry.

Organisers expect more than 60,000 visitors, over 220 exhibitors, more than 200 booths and stalls, over 250 potential buyers and 2,500 trade visitors.

Participants will include tour operators, airlines, hotels, resorts and tourism boards from countries including Nepal, India, Singapore, the Maldives, the Philippines, Turkey, the United Arab Emirates, China, Sri Lanka, Thailand, Saudi Arabia, Malaysia and Azerbaijan.

The programme will feature four themed exhibition halls, business-to-business meetings, seminars and cultural performances. The Philippine Embassy will organise a cultural performance on October 30.

TOAB President Mohammad Hanif said the fair had developed into an important regional tourism platform after 13 successful editions. It would help showcase Bangladesh's attractions internationally and connect local businesses with global tourism brands, he said.

Kamrul Islam, general manager for public relations at US-Bangla Airlines, said the airline planned to add 21 Boeing aircraft to its fleet by December 2027.

It also plans to expand services to destinations including Kathmandu, Colombo, Kuwait, Bahrain, Delhi, Bengaluru, Hong Kong, Penang and Johor Bahru. Longer-term plans include flights to London, Rome, Sydney, Toronto and New York.

Industry representatives stressed the need for better air connectivity, improved infrastructure, trained tourism professionals and stronger safety standards to attract more international visitors.

Ashwin Nair, general manager of Crowne Plaza Dhaka Airport, emphasised safety throughout the travel experience and called for closer cooperation between government agencies and private businesses.

Md Rafiquzzaman, former TOAB president and chief coordinator of the fair, said the Bangladesh Tourism Board had not provided financial support for the event over the past three years, leaving exhibitors and industry businesses to bear much of the cost.

He urged the government to facilitate investment in inbound tourism, offer loans on favourable terms and help local businesses participate in international tourism fairs. He also called for greater private-sector representation in tourism-related bodies.