Promoting inter-regional tourism

The Third Asian Tourism Fair, held in the city recently, observed that the regional countries should focus on joint tourism packages to attract more visitors to the region.

South Asian ambassadors attending the fair said it is time to focus on promoting inter-regional tourism. Nepal has Mount Everest, the highest mountain of the world and Bangladesh has Cox's Bazar, the world's longest natural sandy sea beach which can feature an ideal tourist package, they said.  

Tourists generally make plans to visit multiple destinations. As such, Bangladesh, India, Nepal and Sri Lanka can integrate their tour packages to lure more tourists, they suggested.

Asia is being considered as an important sightseeing destination due to its rich variety of tourist spots and the rapid economic growth the region is going through. The foreign diplomats should persuade their compatriots to visit countries of the region, the participants at the fair suggested.

In developing countries like Bangladesh, the contribution of tourism in alleviating poverty is enormous. Its incorporation in policy-making in countries such as Nepal and Bhutan has resulted in greater dividends with increasing GDP (gross domestic product). Tourism is no longer new in Bangladesh and yet it remains an embryonic means to lift the country on to a solvent status.

Except a good number of hotels and motels built at the initiatives of private entrepreneurs, Cox's Bazar does not have much to offer to the tourists. Proper planning was not followed in building the hotels. The so-called five-star and three-star hotels are there in name only, but facilities to attain such status are grossly missing.

Some three-star hotels do not have the facilities for use of credit cards, WiFi etc. Hoteliers mostly cheat the clients with room rents, by making an artificial crisis of accommodation. Charges vary between Tk 1000 and Tk 3500 for a deluxe double-bed room; it means the hoteliers do not follow any binding rule. Those who heavily bargain, ultimately gain -- just like in a fish market.

Sea beaches have, except some big umbrellas set up by cell phone companies, very few products to offer. A few life buoys on the coast are available, but these are not adequate in number. Coast watch-towers are mostly seen without watchers. Speed boats for sea-surfing are hardly available. Lax security on the coastline is a problem for the incoming tourists. Locals mostly warn them not to walk on the coast in isolation.

On wonders why the long beach stretching from Cox's Bazar to Himchhari and Inani is not being taken up for turning it into a landmark tourist spot. Panoramic and serene beauties of these seaside places speak of a large potential for attracting tourists.

Of late, the government has recognised tourism as an industry. A national tourism policy has also been put in place. This aims at developing tourism with increased private sector participation. Construction of exclusive tourism zones has been undertaken by the government at Kuakata, Rangamati, Patenga, Khagrachhari, Saint's Martin Island and Bandarban to attract tourists.

A number of private sector tour operators are now active in the country. But the shortage of properly qualified and efficient manpower is causing hindrance to the development of tourism. The problem is so acute that the Bangladesh Parjatan Corporation (BPC) has yet not been able to develop specific attractive, domestic tourism products.

However, the support from the government that is needed for the development of tourism infrastructure is not up to the mark. Apart from general lack of positive action to develop tourism and absence of consistent and coordinated efforts to dispel a negative image about the country, the sector is suffering from lack of professionalism.

The importance of tourism, as an important instrument for economic development and employment generation -- particularly in remote and backward areas, is now well recognised all over the world. Nowadays international tourists not only visit a place to enjoy sightseeing but also want to experience its heritage, traditions and customs.

Therefore, destroying or transforming the local culture only makes a locality less attractive to the tourists. In fact, there is a need to preserve the country's cultural identity for the sake of development of its tourism sector.

After Cox's Bazar, Chittagong needs infrastructural development, the best use of its airport, development of its roads, supplies of sufficient energy and an industrial zone in Mirsarai to become a regional business and tourist hub. Chittagong has many tourist spots. Apart from Patenga Beach, the Foy's Lake, Ethnological Museum, Zia Memorial Museum, War Cemetery and Cheragi Pahar, there are many places that have the potential of becoming new sites to help attract both local and international tourists.

Then again, the lack of infrastructure and no promotional activities keep tourism in Chittagong in the dark ages. And also, there is no coordinated approach to building it as a true business capital.

It is very unfortunate that in spite of having the world's longest sea beach at Cox's Bazar, the world's largest mangrove forest in the Sundarbans and three world heritage sites, Bangladesh still lags behind others in the region and beyond, in the race for attracting tourists. Among the South Asian countries, Bangladesh is just above Bhutan in terms of tourist attraction.

In order to promote tourism into a profitable industry, it is imperative to understand the factors that hamper its growth and check them effectively. The country needs to go for a wholesale marketing. It is not enough for the country to have the Cox's Bazar does have a few products to offer to the tourists one of the promising tourist destinations in the world.

To turn that possibility into a reality, a diverse marketing strategy for tourism is a pre-condition. In fact, the country needs to learn lessons from Thailand, Malaysia or even the Maldives on how to do that.

Since tourism has a lot to do with the country's image before the world at large, the government has to play a meaningful role in creating a very positive image of Bangladesh and promoting its most interesting features. Relevant infrastructure should be built with higher speed.

The places of historical interest need to be made accessible, having welcoming features to attract the visitors. The roads, leading to those places, should be in a good shape; transports of all modes should be available in plenty and at reasonable costs. Both the government and the private sector should come forward to invest and develop the infrastructure and transport sector to promote tourism.

szkhan@dhaka.net