Tour operators can now sell overseas packages in taka
Bangladesh Bank has allowed tour operators that are members of the Tour Operators Association of Bangladesh (Toab) to collect payments in taka from resident Bangladeshis for overseas tour packages and remit the corresponding foreign currency to service providers abroad.
Under a circular issued by the central bank on Sunday authorized operators can collect package payments locally in Taka from resident citizens and remit the equivalent foreign currency directly to overseas hotels, transport providers, and destination management companies (DMCs) through Authorized Dealer (AD) banks.
Toab-registered tour operators with formal foreign tie-ups can collect outbound tour package payments in Taka directly from Bangladeshi residents.
Approved operators can remit up to $3,000 USD per traveler per calendar year outside the regular individual annual travel quota to cover actual land package expenses (accommodation, transport, sightseeing).
Outbound tour packages exceeding $3,000 must be collected in foreign currency via international credit or debit cards through bank merchant acquiring services.
Operators must maintain passport-indexed records and collect written self-declarations from travelers confirming they have not exceeded the $3,000 annual limit across multiple agents.
AD banks must verify overseas vendor invoices, bilateral contracts, travel itineraries, passenger manifests, and local Taka payment receipts before releasing foreign exchange.
AD banks must submit detailed transaction records to Bangladesh Bank within seven days of executing any foreign remittance.
Tourism industry leaders and financial analysts have welcomed the circular, noting that outbound travel bookings previously involved complex currency conversion steps or informal payment channels.
Allowing local Taka collection for international packages creates an accessible, transparent framework for outbound travelers while bringing informal foreign exchange flows into the regulated banking system.
Furthermore, requiring AD banks to cross-check foreign vendor invoices against traveler lists ensures that remittances reflect actual ground expenses, preventing the misuse of trade channels for unauthorized capital transfers.
