Process underway to formulate ‘National Tourism Master Plan’: PM

Prime Minister Tarique Rahman today informed the parliament that the present government has a specific commitment to develop Bangladesh’s tourism sector in sustainable and planned manner.

The Civil Aviation and Tourism Ministry is working to formulate a ‘National Tourism Master Plan’ to this end, he added.

In this connection, the Prime Minister informed the House that special emphasis is being given to preserving the natural beauty of Kuakata and developing the tourism sector under this master plan.

The Leader of the House said this while responding to a starred question from treasury bench member ABM Mosharrof Hossain (Patuakhali-4) in the Jatiya Sangsad (JS) with Speaker Hafiz Uddin Ahmad, Bir Bikram, in the chair.

Tarique Rahman, also ruling BNP chairman, said that simultaneously, a feasibility study is being conducted for a project titled ‘Development of Basic Facilities at Kuakata in Patuakhali District and Patenga-Anwara Sea Beach in Chattogram District’.

The Leader of the House also said that the Housing and Public Works Ministry is preparing an ‘Action Area Plan’ to implement the ‘Payra-Kuakata Comprehensive Plan Focusing on Eco-Tourism’, which includes seven upazilas adjacent to Kuakata—Galachipa, Kalapara, Rangabali, Barguna Sadar, Patharghata, Amtali, and Taltali.

Noting that the tourism component of the ‘Action Area Plan’ will be implemented by the Ministry of Civil Aviation and Tourism, the Prime Minister expressed the hope that once the plan is finalized, it will accelerate the overall development of the tourism sector in Kuakata under Kalapara upazila.