Staff Reporter :
One of the largest potential sectors in Bangladesh, tourism, has been facing a series of challenges while trying to recover. Experts note that natural disasters and political unrest are the primary obstacles, among other issues, that repeatedly hinder the sector’s growth.
At the end of 2020, the tourism industry plunged into uncertainty due to the onslaught of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Although it made attempts to recover afterward, it was severely impacted by other calamities such as cyclones and floods. Additionally, political unrest caused the sector to incur losses amounting to crores of taka.
In this situation, the tourism business is becoming increasingly risky, discouraging new entrepreneurs from investing in it, insiders said.
At the beginning of this year, the sector experienced a downturn due to pre- and post-election tensions. During the two Eid festivals, tourists were hesitant to visit tourist spots across the country due to the unbearable heat wave at the time.
The sector faced further challenges in July and August this year due to the “Anti-discrimination Students Movement.”
Shortly afterward, devastating floods severely affected the eastern parts of the country. Most recently, instability in the Hill Tracts has brought yet another blow to the tourism sector. As a result, the lives and livelihoods of those involved in at least 16 types of service-providing sectors are now at risk.
According to industry professionals, the tourism sector incurred losses of approximately thousands of crores of taka due to the curfew and internet shutdown imposed by the previous government to suppress the student and public movements in July and August.
After the fall of the Sheikh Hasina government on August 5, the political instability that followed for several days had a drastic impact on tourism. Popular tourist destinations in Greater Sylhet and the Chattogram Hill Tracts were hit hard by the floods. In particular, the Chattogram Hill Tracts were devoid of tourists for several days due to recent violence between Bengali settlers and indigenous hill people in Khagrachari and Rangamati.
Traders and service providers in the tourism sector emphasize that travelers need a stable environment, which has been lacking in the country for a long time. Businesspeople involved in the sector are now seeking support from the interim government to ensure a safer environment for tourists.
Meanwhile, the tourism sector in northern Bangladesh, particularly in 16 districts of the Rajshahi and Rangpur divisions, has long been neglected due to a lack of political will. As a result, no significant infrastructure for tourism has been developed in the region over the past decade.
According to the Tour Operators Association of Bangladesh (TOAB), around 4 million people are directly and indirectly involved in the tourism sector in the country. Currently, there are about 1,100 million tourists worldwide, with approximately 75 percent of them traveling to Asian countries. However, Bangladesh has not fully benefited from this due to unplanned activities.
Md. Rafeuzzaman, President of TOAB, said, “The tourism sector generates thousands of crores of taka annually, with about 30 percent of this income coming from the two Eid festivals – 20 percent from Eid-ul-Fitr and 10 percent from Eid-ul-Azha. However, the sector has suffered losses of at least Tk 10,000 crore over the last decade due to various instabilities, and overall losses could exceed millions of crores.”
One of the TOAB directors, speaking anonymously, mentioned, “The tourism sector is highly sensitive. It is the first to shut down during any political instability or natural disaster. Most of the tours scheduled until December have already been canceled due to repeated disruptions.”
He expressed dissatisfaction, stating, “The apparel sector receives government incentives because it earns foreign currency. However, the tourism sector, which also brings in foreign revenue through international tourists, does not receive similar benefits.” He urged the interim government to provide incentives to help the tourism sector recover its losses.
AKM Altaf Hossain Pramanik, Chairman of the Bangladesh Tourism Corporation, said, “Tourists always prioritize safety before traveling. Unfortunately, the disturbances over the last 15 years have hindered the growth of the tourism sector.”
“However, we are now working to overcome these challenges and move forward,” he added.