Naf Tourism Park can help tourism grow

The famous Thai theme park company Siam Siam International is jointly investing $500 million in Naf Tourism Park. Bangladesh Economic Zones Authority and Siam Siam International have already signed an agreement to turn the natural island into an exclusive tourism park. It is hoped that this park will be completed in several phases within next five years.

Once completed, the park will have a five-star and a three-star hotel, resorts, amusement park, live entertainment theatre, mega shopping mall, cinema hall, floating restaurant, water sports beach, golf club, cable car, musical water fountain, and many other features.

This plan will hopefully encourage many other foreign and local companies to invest in the country's tourism sector. Tourism has been doing very well as a sector globally as most of the airlines are now offering tickets that are cheap. Also, the number of budget airlines has spiked over the past one decade. For international tourists, Bangladesh can be a dream destination.

Many people in Bangladesh also spend a good amount of money every year on personal tours abroad. If such parks are created here in greater number, these outbound tourists will then be visiting these local spots of attraction. And thus, people's hard-earned money will stay put in the country.

The government, however, needs to take drastic actions to improve the tourism sector. On-arrival visa system can be introduced for tourists from certain countries. This may encourage other international tourists as well.

Masud Rana

Dhanmondi, Dhaka