FY27 budget prioritises tourism growth
The finance minister said the government is placing special emphasis on eco-tourism development and human resource capacity building to unlock the country’s vast tourism potential
ATT Correspondent 
The government has announced a series of initiatives to strengthen Bangladesh’s tourism industry and develop a creative economy ecosystem in the proposed FY2026-27 budget, aiming to improve service quality, attract more international visitors and create new employment opportunities.
In his budget speech in Parliament, Finance Minister Amir Khosru Mahmud Chowdhury said the government is placing special emphasis on eco-tourism development and human resource capacity building to unlock the country’s vast tourism potential.
As part of the initiative, the government plans to establish an international-standard specialised training institute to enhance the skills of tourism professionals and improve service standards across the sector, he added.
The budget also proposes the introduction of international hospitality benchmarks to upgrade training in culinary arts and other tourism-related trades. In addition, trainees in the tourism sector will be provided with internationally recognised certification through globally reputed organisations.
Officials believe these measures will help address one of the industry's long-standing challenges – the shortage of skilled manpower capable of meeting international hospitality standards.
“The government is also finalising a comprehensive Tourism Master Plan that will incorporate the sector's diverse attractions, emerging opportunities and modern creative themes. The plan is expected to provide a long-term roadmap for sustainable tourism development and destination promotion,” the finance minister said.
To strengthen Bangladesh's global image, the government has announced plans to launch a national branding initiative titled “Created in Bangladesh”, which will showcase the country’s creative industries, cultural heritage and tourism potential at international festivals and markets, he added.
The budget further proposes increased support for theatre, cultural heritage preservation and the development of internationally competitive film production facilities. Authorities plan to establish modern studios with advanced technical capabilities to support film production and participation on global over-the-top (OTT) platforms.
Recognising the growing importance of creative industries, the government has proposed an initial allocation of Tk300 crore for the development of the creative economy sector in FY27. An additional Tk500 crore is expected to be mobilised from Bangladesh Bank’s Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) fund to support creative industry initiatives.
Industry stakeholders welcomed the focus on skills development and tourism promotion but stressed the need for effective implementation, improved connectivity and stronger destination marketing to fully realise the sector's potential.
Tourism experts say Bangladesh has significant potential in eco-tourism, cultural tourism and community-based tourism, but sustained investment in infrastructure, service quality and international branding will be needed to compete with regional destinations.
