Asian Tourism Fair starts Thursday

The three-day 13th Asian Tourism Fair (ATF) 2026, featuring travel and tourism products and services from Bangladesh and abroad, will begin in Dhaka on Thursday at the International Convention City Bashundhara (ICCB).

The details of the fair were announced at a press conference at a city hotel in Gulshan on Monday. ATF Chairman Mohiuddin Helal addressed the press conference, while Bangladesh Parjatan Corporation (BPC) Chairman Md Shamimuzzaman attended as the chief guest.

Endorsed by the Ministry of Civil Aviation and Tourism and supported by the BPC and Bangladesh Tourism Board, the fair will bring together more than 200 organisations from 10 countries, including Bangladesh, across nearly 300 booths in three halls.

Hotels, resorts, tour operators, travel agents, airlines, public and private tourism organisations and foreign missions will showcase their products and services, offering special deals to visitors.

The fair will feature the “Destination Bangladesh Showcase”, “International Tourism Showcase” and “Bangladesh Tourism Investment Showcase”. It will also host B2B sessions, seminars, destination presentations, panel discussions, product promotions and networking events.

Cultural performances by artists from Bangladesh, Nepal and the Philippines will be staged every evening.

“ATF 2026 will play a significant role in fostering business linkages among tourism stakeholders at home and abroad, promoting tourism products, and creating new investment opportunities in Bangladesh’s tourism sector,” Helal said.

He said the fair has placed emphasis on region-based tourism, including haor, Sundarbans, river, adventure, community and eco-tourism. It will also provide foreign organisations with an opportunity to promote their tourism products and destinations.

The fair has been planned with the participation and interests of children, students, tourism entrepreneurs and visitors in mind. Organisers have also sought to ensure the participation of women entrepreneurs and stakeholders involved in community tourism.