Tourism gets growth-sector focus
Bangladesh is seeking to turn tourism into a larger economic driver by more than doubling the sector’s contribution to gross domestic product (GDP) to 7 per cent from the current 2-3 per cent, as the government moves to integrate tourism more closely with the mainstream economy.
Secretary of the Ministry of Civil Aviation and Tourism Fahmida Akhtar disclosed the target on Saturday at a press conference marking World Tourism Day at Bangladesh Parjatan Corporation Bhaban in Agargaon.
She said a tourism satellite account was being developed to measure the sector’s actual economic contribution and identify its wider potential.
The account will provide a comprehensive picture of tourism-related economic activities, including employment generation, domestic and foreign tourist numbers, inbound and outbound travel and visitors’ preferred destinations, she said.
Based on the findings, the National Tourism Master Plan is being updated in line with the government’s strategic development plan. The exercise is expected to be completed by December, Fahmida said.
The government’s focus comes as tourism is increasingly being viewed as a source of business, employment and foreign-exchange earnings, with efforts under way to attract more international visitors and strengthen domestic tourism.
Week-long programme
The Ministry of Civil Aviation and Tourism has planned a week-long programme from September 27 to October 3 to mark World Tourism Day, which is being observed this year under the theme “Tomorrow’s Tourism through Digital Transformation and Artificial Intelligence”.
The programme includes a colourful rally, a cycle rally, a guided city tour for underprivileged children, meetings with tourism stakeholders and foreign diplomats, exhibitions and discussion sessions.
Bangladesh Tourism Board (BTB) Chief Executive Officer Mutasim Billah Faruqui said a colourful rally involving public and private tourism stakeholders would be held on September 27.
The rally will showcase rural Bengal’s traditional lifestyle, the heritage of ethnic communities and Dhaka’s cultural legacy. A cycle rally will also be held at 9:30am on the same day.
An exchange meeting with tourism stakeholders is scheduled for September 28, while a meeting with foreign diplomats based in Bangladesh will be held on September 30.
The meetings are aimed at promoting Bangladesh’s tourism potential, attracting more foreign visitors and strengthening international cooperation, Faruqui said.
Culture, AI and tourism
The main World Tourism Day event will be held on October 3 at the Bangladesh-China Friendship Convention Centre in Sher-e-Bangla Nagar.
Twelve themed exhibition stalls will showcase Bangladesh’s traditional culture, cuisine, Geographical Indication (GI) products, craft souvenirs, handloom and textiles, ethnic heritage, tourist destinations and rural Bengali lifestyle.
In line with this year’s theme, the event will also feature artificial intelligence-based demonstrations covering tourist destination experiences, time travel and photography.
A discussion titled “Tomorrow’s Tourism through Digital Transformation and Artificial Intelligence” will also be held.
For the first time, the “Bangladesh Tourism Award 2026” will be presented in 13 categories.
The awards will recognise contributions to sustainable tourism development, improved service quality, innovation, digital transformation, local community engagement, women and young entrepreneurs, and the preservation of the environment and cultural heritage.
Push for foreign tourists
Faruqui said initiatives were also being taken to intensify international tourism promotion and attract more foreign visitors.
Foreign diplomats, influential international bloggers, influencers and journalists are being brought into promotional efforts to showcase Bangladesh’s tourism attractions to a wider global audience, he said.
Bangladesh is also participating in international tourism fairs and events abroad to promote the country’s tourism resources and image.
At the same time, training is being provided to tourism workers and immigration police personnel, who are often among the first points of contact for foreign visitors arriving at Bangladesh’s airports.
The government hopes that stronger promotion, improved services, digital technology and better measurement of tourism’s economic contribution will help expand the sector’s role in business activity, employment and overall economic growth.
