Govt looks to private sector to explore tourism prospect

The government is looking to greater private-sector investment and public-private partnerships to unlock Bangladesh’s tourism potential and transform the sector into a sustainable and globally competitive industry.

Civil Aviation and Tourism Minister said the government’s new tourism policy would place strong emphasis on private investment and public-private partnerships, calling on stakeholders to come up with innovative and cost-effective ideas to develop the sector.

Speaking at the inaugural ceremony of the 13th Asian Tourism Fair 2026 at the International Convention City Bashundhara (ICCB) in Dhaka on Thursday, the minister said Bangladesh had diverse tourism opportunities, ranging from the Sundarbans and Cox’s Bazar to the Chittagong Hill Tracts, Sylhet’s tea gardens, rivers, wetlands and archaeological and religious heritage sites.

“Almost every part of Bangladesh has a story to tell,” he said, stressing the need to turn these scattered opportunities into a well-planned tourism industry.

The minister said the government was working on a tourism master plan covering 1,498 tourist attractions of different categories.

The government is also planning to develop Cox’s Bazar, home to what the minister described as the world’s longest sea beach, into a regional tourism hub.

He said the newly constructed Cox’s Bazar International Airport was expected to attract outbound tourists.
The minister added the government believed its tourism targets were ambitious but achievable if the government, private sector and local communities worked together.

“We want to raise the contribution of tourism sector in GDP to 8-9%,” he said, adding that the sector currently contributes around 2-3% to GDP.

He called on tourism stakeholders, investors and other concerned parties to work together to take Bangladesh’s tourism sector to global stage.

“Without joint commitment of public and private sector, tourism will never flourish,” the minister said.

The minister also said the government wanted to work at every level of the tourism sector and urged stakeholders to start taking initiatives without delay.

The 13th Asian Tourism Fair is being attended by more than 200 organisations from 10 countries, with around 300 stalls showcasing tourism products, services, destinations and investment opportunities.

The minister described the fair as more than a tourism exhibition, saying it provides a platform for friendship, business, investment, cultural exchange and regional cooperation.