‘National Tourism Master Plan’ underway: PM

Prime Minister Tarique Rahman on Wednesday informed parliament that the current government remains committed to the sustainable and planned development of Bangladesh's tourism sector.

He also noted that the Civil Aviation and Tourism Ministry is in the process of formulating a “National Tourism Master Plan” to achieve this objective, reports BSS.

In this regard, the Prime Minister told the House that the Master Plan places emphasis on preserving Kuakata's natural beauty while advancing the development of the tourism sector.

The Leader of the House made the statement in response to a starred question from treasury bench member ABM Mosharrof Hossain (Patuakhali-4) in the Jatiya Sangsad (JS), with Speaker Hafiz Uddin Ahmad, Bir Bikram, in the chair.

Tarique Rahman, also chairman of the ruling BNP, said that at the same time, a feasibility study is under way for a project titled ‘Development of Basic Facilities at Kuakata in Patuakhali District and Patenga-Anwara Sea Beach in Chattogram District’.

The Leader of the House also said that the Housing and Public Works Ministry is preparing an ‘Action Area Plan’ to implement the ‘Payra-Kuakata Comprehensive Plan Focusing on Eco-Tourism’, which covers seven upazilas adjacent to Kuakata—Galachipa, Kalapara, Rangabali, Barguna Sadar, Patharghata, Amtali, and Taltali.

Noting that the tourism component of the ‘Action Area Plan’ will be implemented by the Ministry of Civil Aviation and Tourism, the Prime Minister expressed hope that once the plan is finalised, it will give a fillip to the overall development of the tourism sector in Kuakata under Kalapara upazila.