The first ever international tourism fair in the country--Dhaka Travel Mart (DTM) 2002began in the city yesterday with a call to give a long due boost to the prospective but neglected local tourism industry.

President AQM Badruddoza Chowdhury inaugurated the fair at Sheraton Hotel saying, "Events like Dhaka Travel Mart 2002 will surely help dispel the unfortunate negative image abroad, project true Bangladesh to the world and achieve the objective of becoming a hot tourist destination with its unexploited natural beauty and its friendly people with rich cultural heritage."

Some 60 organisations from 20 countries representing tourism, aviation and hospitality industries are taking part in the three-day event. About 30 delegates from different countries are expected to visit the fair and they will also be taken to various tourist attractions in the country, according to organisers.

Quoting an estimate by the World Travel and Tourism

Council, the President said the world travel and tourism economy will constitute 11 per cent of the global GDP by 2011 and support 260.5 million jobs, which is nine per cent of the global employment.

In this context, he observed, "Bangladesh cannot remain isolated and government cannot also remain indifferent."

Those who spoke at the inaugural session included state minister for civil aviation and tourism Mir Mohammad Nasiruddin, former tourism minister and lawmaker Abdul Mannan, Editor of The Daily Star Mahfuz Anam, Chairman of DTM-2002 Kazi Wahidul Alam and Chief Editor of The Bangladesh Monitor (a fortnightly on tourism) Raquib Siddiqi.

The speakers expressed the view that the first objective should be to attract domestic tourists and create enough facilities for them at reasonable cost.The DTM is open to visitors from 10 am to 7 pm with entry fee of Tk 20. Visitors can try their luck to win the lucky draw of Dhaka-London-Dhaka air ticket in 'World Traveller Plus' of British Airways, on the first two days.

There are three prizes on the concluding day. The first is a Dhaka-London-Dhaka air ticket in Club World with three-night stay in London Sheraton Hotel. The second and third prizes are Dhaka-London-Dhaka air ticket. British Airways is sponsor of all the prizes.

State Minister Mir Mohammad Nasiruddin said that in the past, effective steps were not taken to attract local tourists and develop proper infrastructure. He however assured that new avenues would be opened in this sector on the basis of public-private sector partnership.

Abdul Mannan said during his tenure, he had tried to develop domestic tourism but could not succeed.

Mahfuz Anam in his speech said there is immense opportunity of developing tourism in the country. "It should be based not on false image but on projection of the real picture, the natural beauty of the country," he added.

He said global lesson is that domestic tourism must grow first,

before foreign tourism. "Efforts must be made to encourage our people to travel and see our own country more. Special tourism package should be offered during holidays and on special occassions."

Kazi Wahidul Alam said the Mart is a step forward to creating a favourable tourism culture in the country and put it on the tourist map of this region.

A seminar on 'Travel Automation and South Asia' was also held on the opening day. Two other seminars on -- 'Hospitality Industry of Bangladesh' and 'Destination Bangladesh: Its Prospects and Problems--' will be held today and tomorrow respectively.