& çâÌæÚUæð´ ·¤è ¥ôÚU Îð¹Ùæ ÁæÚUè ÚU¹ð´ ¥ÍæüÌ ¥ÂÙð ÜÿØ ÂÚU ŠØæÙ ÚU¹ð´Ð ãæÚU Ù ×æÙð´, €UØô´ç·¤ ·¤æ× ·¤ÚUÙð âð ¥æÂ·¤ô ©gðàØ ·¤è Âýæç# ãôÌè ãñ ¥õÚU ÁèßÙ ·¤æ ¹æÜèÂÙ ÎêÚU ãôÌæ ãñÐ ÖÜð ãè ÁèßÙ ×ð´ ç·¤ÌÙè Öè ·¤çÆÙæ§ü €UØô´ Ù ¥æ°, çÁ™ææâæ ¥õÚU ©ˆâæã ÕÙæ° ÚU¹ð´Ð ŠØæÙ ÚU¹ð´, ÜÿØ ã×ðàææ ¥æÂ·Ô¤ Âæâ ãôÌð ãñ´ çÁ‹ãð´ ÂæÙð ·Ô¤ çÜ° ÂýØæâ ¥æÂ ·¤Öè Öè àæéM¤ ·¤ÚU â·¤Ìð ãñ´Ð

Tourism Develonment in Bangladesh

Khondoker Rashidul Huq Chairman. Bangladesh Parjatan Corporation
introduction
Tourism Is a popular term denoting a growth Industry In the present day world. This is gaining more popularity with the passage of lime. World Tourism Organisation (WTO) forecasts that in the 90s tourists traffic will increase by 3.2 percent. By the turn of this century the global tourist traffic will reach at 661 million. Slmulteniously the earnings from this sector will also grow at a more faster rate. According to WTO International tourism receipts went up to US* 372.6 billion in 1995. Moreover, tourism industry is the prime Job provider In the world. In 1995 this Industry alone employed 1 12 million workers and it Is expected that the Industry will provide nearly 7 percent of world s fob as we will enter the 21 si century. Thus the magnitude of this industry can easily be visualized.
Bangladesh and Tourism Bangladesh is bestowed with the bounties of nature. Its captivating beauties natural has firovoked many travellers rom far and near through ages. One of such traveller aptly, observed. 'Bengala has huildred gate open for entrance. but not one fori departure'
Bangladesh Is heir to a rich cultural legacy. In two thousand or more years of its chequered history, many illustrious dynasties of kings and sultans have ruled and disappeared and have left their mark In the shape of magnificent cities ana monuments, the desolate ruins which are still visible In many places throughout the country.
Above all. the simple and friendly people of Bangladesh along with Its
tribes isolated Irom modem society by their own distinct culture and way of life make Bangladesh a distin guished and unique attraction for tourists.
Development of Tourism in Bangladesh
Bangladesh Parjatan Corporation (BPC). the national tourism organization of the country was established in 1973 al the persona! initiative of the Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujlbur Rahman. It is a semlautonomous organization and has been placed under the Ministry of Civil Aviation & Tourism. It has the dual responsibility of develop-ment related to tourist facilities and promotional activities to project the tourist product ana to create a favourable Image of the country. Since Its Inception the corporation has renovated the existing tourist facilities and created new facilities at important tourist spots. The tourist facilities created so far Include hotels, motels, cottages, youth hostels, restaurants, duty free shops, land and water transports at different spots within the country. -BPC -a c commo-wtauoe^mns-now hove a: total capacity of about 800 beds. Besides. BPC offer city sightseeing lours, package tours and excursion trips. Moreover city sightseeing packages tours for transit passengers and river cruise package are being organised for the guests In Dhaka. Recently BPC commissioned a river cruise vessel M.L. Shalook to organise cruises on regular basis. Above all. the only National Motel A Tourism Training Institute of the country Is run by the
Bangladesh Parjatan corporation in Dhaka, established under the UN DP/1 to assistance, so far imparted training to ten thousand trainees In different trades of tourism Industry. Il may not be out of place to mention here that BPC is one of the few public neclor corporations earning net profit since I983-&4 and expanding tourist facilities from its limited earnings.
Marketing and Public Relations Programme Planned marketing campaign plays a vital role In the promotion of intangible tourism products. In view of this due importance has been given in publication of promotional booklets, posters, brochures, maps etc. on tourist attractive places and distribution ol those through Bangladesh Missions. overseas Biman-Banglaclesh Airlines Offices and- intending Individ ual tourists at home and abroad. Besides, advert Inements are being released to local and foreign news papers, travel magazlties, radio and television al regular Intervals. Moreover.. £anilllr|zaU$n
operav? rsrarw* oemgv*^^* nised a nd press release* issued i io local and foreign press.
As a part of marketing
country extensively.
Tour Offer*
Bangladesh Parjatan Corporation organizes both ready-made package tours and lours on request for the potential guests. Besides we offer city sightseeing tours and river cruises in Dhaka. We organize sightseeing and package tours for both the local and foreign visitors during tourist seasons.
Prospect of Tourism In Bangladesh
Bangladesh Parjatan Cor-?oratlon-lhe National
otirlsm Organization-has been striving hard to perform its charter of duties as described in its founding ordinance but could not make much headway In that direction due to fund constraints. A dismal picture may be revealed if fund allocation for the development of the sector of past plan periods arer-MewedJn these period tourism sector received less than one percent of the total outlay. Moreover, private sector was also shy In investing In this sector. However, recently a ray of hope is seen shown with the recognition of tourism as an Industry by the go 'eminent. This recog-xt Ilion: -wUl pav*-the way
‘■fall o'ri' " BT" ?asy"Tblfl facilities, and other facilities for investment in this sector as is done in
programme BPC made wmt! 16 documentary films and video film*. These are projected through our missions and Biman offices abroad. Moreover BPC regularly participates In major lourint exhibitions such as ITB in Berlin. WTM tn London. TTF In Calcutta etc. and at home Tourism Mon Uh' Is organised annually to motivate local people to travel within the
case of other industries.
Above all. for rapid development of tourism sector, government announced a National Tourism Policy in 1992 and a National Tourism Council has been formed with the Prime Minister as Its Chairperson. The policy will act as a guideline for overall development of tourism industry In the country. With the compliance of the guide-lines
set out In the policy. It is expected, a congeinal atmosphere foe Investment In tourism sector will be created, where public and private sector could play their due role for its promotion, earning of Foreign exchange and creation of Job oppor tunlties.
In the mean time a strategic Master Plan has been tor mutated by World Tourism Organization with the assistance of UNDP for integrated development of tourism industry In the
country. Steps have been taken to develop tourism Infrastructure by phases as per recommendations of Master Plan. These Include creation of tourist facilities. at Cox's Bazar. Kuakata, Dlnalpur, Madhabkunda. Texnaf. Mongla and Daudkandion Chittagong- Dhaka high way near Gumtl-Meghna Bridge.- Besides these following project proposals have been sent 10 the government for Inclusion In the next Annual Development Programme.