PM upbeat about tourism dev plans

Prime Minister Tarique Rahman said the government considers tourism a key driver of economic growth, job creation and poverty reduction in Bangladesh, adding that authorities are preparing a long-term Tourism Master Plan to make the sector more sustainable and better integrated into the mainstream economy.

He said the upcoming master plan, based on the government's specific electoral pledges, will provide the foundation for prioritising and implementing future development projects. At the same time, work is underway to update the National Tourism Policy to keep pace with changing global trends.

The Prime Minister added that the Bangladesh Parjatan Corporation is working across the country to upgrade tourism infrastructure, expand facilities and identify new destinations for visitors.

He made the remarks on July 15 while responding to a question from Cox's Bazar-3 Member of Parliament Lutfur Rahman during the 25th sitting of parliament's ongoing budget session.

The Prime Minister said the government has taken steps to transform Cox's Bazar into a world-class tourist destination, with international-standard tourism facilities planned on 132.44 acres of Bangladesh Parjatan Corporation land under a public-private partnership (PPP) model.

Alongside this, construction is underway on a modern Tourism Training Institute at the Motel Laboni compound in Cox's Bazar to develop a skilled, international-standard workforce for the tourism and hospitality industry.

He said plans for international-standard hotels on Bangladesh Parjatan Corporation land in Cox's Bazar, Sylhet and Khulna have progressed significantly, with demand and feasibility studies already completed by the Institute of Business Administration (IBA) at Dhaka University through the Bangladesh Investment Development Authority (BIDA).

The Prime Minister said new Tourist Information Centres have been opened at Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport and Benapole, the country's largest land port, to assist domestic and international travellers.

LED information boards are also being installed at major airports, land ports and railway stations across the country to make tourism-related information more accessible.

To ensure visitors' safety, volunteer teams have been deployed at popular tourist destinations, and CCTV coverage is being expanded at these locations, the Prime Minister said, adding that feasibility studies for additional projects are ongoing, while virtual tours are also being developed to promote the country's attractions to international audiences.

The government is working to create a more investment-friendly environment for both local and foreign investors in tourism by offering policy support to entrepreneurs while advancing major projects through public-private partnerships (PPP).

Efforts have also been stepped up to promote eco-tourism, community-based tourism and heritage and cultural tourism, alongside digital campaigns to strengthen Bangladesh's tourism brand internationally, added the PM.

Participation in global tourism fairs and organised familiarisation trips is also helping showcase the country's tourism attractions to international audiences, he said.

On improving service standards, the Prime Minister said the government regularly conducts specialised training for tour operators, tourism entrepreneurs, amusement park staff, accommodation providers and transport workers. Field-level training is also being provided to support community tourism, ethnic tourism and water-based tourism, he said.

The National Hotel and Tourism Training Institute, run by the Bangladesh Parjatan Corporation, remains the country's leading institution for training tourism professionals. It currently offers programmes including a Diploma in Hotel Management, Tourism and Hospitality Management, Professional Chef Training, Front Office Operations, Housekeeping, and Food and Beverage Service.

The prime minister said the government has also launched an initiative to professionalise tour guiding by training guides for archaeological, ethnic and ecotourism sites. Under the programme, the Bangladesh Parjatan Corporation trained 101 participants in May 2026.

He concluded by saying the government is coordinating closely with all relevant institutions to transform the country's tourism sector into a modern, technology-driven and foreign exchange-earning industry.