Baishakh celebration: An untapped tourism opportunity

Pahela Baishakh is more than just the Bengali New Year-it's a celebration of culture, identity, and togetherness. Every year, we see millions of people across Bangladesh welcome the day with colourful processions, traditional foods, folk music, and vibrant clothing. Yet, despite all this cultural richness, we've hardly positioned Pahela Baishakh as a tourism product on the global stage.

While countries around the world turn their festivals into global attractions-think of Holi in India or Songkran in Thailand-we've yet to do the same. Foreign tourists are often unaware of the cultural value and community spirit that Boishakh brings. With better planning, promotion, and infrastructure, this single festival could drive thousands of travelers to Dhaka, Pabna, Sylhet, and other culturally active regions.

There is real opportunity here-not just for hotels and tour operators, but also for artisans, street vendors, musicians, and local businesses. Pahela Baishakh could serve as a cultural export that strengthens both our economy and national image.

The world is curious about authentic experiences. Let's open our doors a little wider and give them a reason to discover Bangladesh.

Md Habib Ullah

(BBA in HRM)

School of Business and Economics

North South University

habib.ullah@northsouth.edu