The government has taken several initiatives for exploiting full potential of the country’s untapped tourism sector through attracting more foreign and local tourists.
At the same time, the government and different organisations have chalked out weeklong programmes in all districts to celebrate the World Tourism Day on Friday with the global theme ‘Tourism and Jobs: a better future for all’.
“This year, for the first time, we will celebrate the day at all districts along with capital Dhaka to create mass awareness about significance of tourism, and its social, political, financial and cultural
value,” said State minister for civil aviation and tourism M Mahbub Ali at a press conference at secretariat in the capital on Tuesday.
Along with Dhaka, he said all 64 district administrations will bring out colorfull rallies and organize seminars marking the day.
The government has taken short, medium and long term planning for exploiting full potential of Bangladesh’s untapped tourism sector through attracting more foreign tourists here, Ali said.
Civil Aviation and Tourism Secretary M Mohibul Haque and CEO of Bangladesh Tourism Board (BTB) Dr Bhuban Chandra Biswas were also present at the briefing.
Haque said the government will make a Tourism Master Plan for further development of the sector. “We are hopeful to give work order to a global consultant firm by this month to formulate the master plan,” he said.
The secretary said they are making separate exclusive tourism plan targeting the Sundarbans, Cox’s Bazar and Chittagong Hill Tracts (CHT).
Along with BTB and Bangladesh Parjatan Corporation (BPC), different organisations including Aviation and Tourism Journalists’ Forum of Bangladesh (ATJFB), a platform of journalists covering aviation and tourism affairs, will organise series of events in observance of the World Tourism Day.
The Day’s programme will begin with a colourful cycle rally at 8.30 am from Manik Mia Avenue to International Mother Language Institute via Farmgate, Kawranbazar, Hatirjheel and Magbazar.
The BTB and BPC will jointly hold a seminar on this year’s Theme at 10 am at International Mother Language Institute auditorium.
Prior of the world tourism day, ATJFB and BTB will jointly award “Tourism Media Fellowship 2019” to 10 journalists at Jatiya Press Club on September 25.
The Parjatan Bichitra, a travel magazine, will organise a three-day tourism fair styled “7th Asian Tourism Fair” from 26 to 28 September at Bashundhara Convention Centre in the capital with participation of 150 different tourism service providing organisations of eight countries.
State Minister for Civil Aviation and Tourism will attend both the programme as the chief guest.
The Dhaka University Tourism Society and Tourism Student Association have arrange weeklong different programmes to celebrate the day while different hotels and motels announced different offers.
Since 1980, the United Nations World Tourism Organisation has celebrated World Tourism Day as international observances on September 27. This date was chosen as on that day in 1970, the Statutes of the UNWTO were adopted.
