State Minister calls for boost in tourism infrastructure

State Minister for Land and Chittagong Hill Tracts Affairs Barrister Mir Mohammad Helal Uddin MP, stressed the need to improve basic tourism infrastructure, including roads, transport, airports, river ports and accommodation facilities.

He made the remarks while addressing as the chief guest a views-exchange meeting titled ‘Prospects of Bangladesh's Tourism Industry and Actions for Its Development’ held at the Shoilopropat Auditorium of Parjatan Bhaban in Agargaon, Dhaka, on Monday.

He also called for international-standard tourism facilities at potential destinations, the development of skilled tour guides and the promotion of traditional and regional cuisine.

The state minister suggested for coordinated efforts by relevant ministries and private-sector stakeholders, including the ministries of Culture, Home Affairs, Land, Local Government, Housing and Public Works, Foreign Affairs, Environment and Shipping, to develop and expand the tourism sector.

The meeting was organised by the Bangladesh Parjatan Corporation (BPC). It focused on ways to utilise the sector’s potential to create employment, support the rural economy and increase tourism’s contribution to the national economy.
The special guests were Prime Minister’s Principal Secretary A B M Abdus Sattar, Civil Aviation and Tourism Secretary Fahmida Akhter NDC, and Planning Commission Member (Secretary) Dr Nurunnahar Chowdhury. BPC Chairman Md Shamimuzzaman chaired the meeting.

BPC General Manager Mohammad Ziaul Haque Howlader presented a keynote paper on the country’s tourism industry. Representatives of government and private stakeholders, along with members of the media, discussed the sector’s potential, challenges and possible measures to address them.

Prime Minister’s Principal Secretary A B M Abdus Sattar said Bangladesh’s economy could be transformed through the development of the tourism industry. He called for preserving the country’s tourism attractions while introducing modern facilities.

Civil Aviation and Tourism Secretary Fahmida Akhter said the government had set a target to significantly increase the tourism sector’s contribution to the economy.

She added the election manifesto had placed emphasis on simplifying visa procedures, introducing an AI-based travel app, developing skilled tourist police, and promoting district-based community tourism, ecotourism and backwater tourism to make Bangladesh more attractive to tourists.

Planning Commission Member (Secretary) Dr Nurunnahar Chowdhury said the BPC should move forward with larger plans alongside its ongoing projects.

BPC Chairman Md Shamimuzzaman said one of the corporation’s key recent initiatives was to identify the country’s tourism potential more extensively. A total of 1,498 tourism spots had already been identified across the country, he said.
Of these, 60 development projects, estimated to cost around Tk 19,000 crore, had been prioritised and submitted to the Ministry of Civil Aviation and Tourism, he said.

The chairman said future plans for the development and expansion of the tourism industry would be formulated based on the recommendations and views received at the consultation meeting.