Regional cooperation is needed to boost tourism in South Asian countries, speakers yesterday told the closing function of the three-day Banglalink Bangladesh Travel and Tourism Fair 2007 in Dhaka.

"We can make a joint plan so that tourists from Europe and the US visit the South Asian region under one package," said Shaikh Altaf Ali, civil aviation and tourism secretary.

"A visitor can visit Nepal first and then he or she may come to Bangladesh through India under one package," Ali elaborated. He also called for collective support to

promote tourism in the region.

Assuring local tour operators of looking into their suggestions, the secretary said if the sector receives proper attention, it will contribute to the development of the economy.

Himangshu Shekar Das, principal secretary to Assam government of India, said tourism can also help improve relations among nations.

As tourism has huge potential, the government should take budgetary measures to develop the sector, said MA Momen, general manager of Biman Bangladesh Airlines Limited.

About the tourism extravaganza that concluded yesterday at the

Bangladesh-China Friendship Conference Centre in the capital, Hasan Mansur, president of Tour Operators Association (Toab), said the organisers received tremendous response from visitors.

Mobile phone operator Banglalink was the sponsor of the show, organised by Toab. About 80 stalls of tour operators, travel agents, hotels, resorts, airlines and travel magazines were set up at the fair.

Tour firms from Nepal, Thailand, Malaysia and India's Assam also took part in the fair.