Policymakers cannot hurry after a regional dynamic for tourism denying the slower pace of Bangladesh's own tourism activities. Nevertheless, tourism must be considered a key source of revenue as the industry has the potential to create more employment opportunities than other sectors. It will allow the country to scout for skilled professionals and other human resources.
Unfortunately, the country's tourism hotspots are not explored and managed with sufficient investments made in the sector. At present, Bangladesh faces challenges in ensuring better accommodations to secure an increasing flow of foreign tourists. Both international and domestic tourists often experience inadequate safety, security and hygienic concerns here.
In 2014, the World Travel and Tourism Council (WTTC) reported that direct contribution of tourism to Bangladesh's GDP was Tk 296.6 billion or 1.9 per cent and the total contribution was Tk 627.9 billion or 4.1 per cent. Its tourism sector generated 903,500 jobs directly or 1.6 per cent of total employment and the total contribution was 1,984,000 jobs or just 3.6 per cent.
Moreover, the government is yet to formulate an organic strategy to economically integrate the country's travel and tourism sector in the form of advanced marketing and sales plans, public relations initiatives and creation of a tourist-friendly environment. Without an active public-private partnership, Bangladesh has failed to offer an attractive set of tourism services and destination packages to local and foreign tourists alike. As the speed of infrastructural development remains sluggish, both high-spending seasoned and family-based tourists along with business travellers hardly find the situation suiting their expectations.
It becomes difficult to create a strong base for tourism since fewer people are involved with the sector's supply chain. Bangladesh's tourism sector suffers from a shortage of innovative tour operators, competent aviation services, and active participation of reliable travel agencies and professional tour guides. Meanwhile, regular price of essential tourism components such as standard hotel rooms, food items, package tours and river cruise programmes are still high compared to neighbouring India and Myanmar.
Furthermore, Bangladesh should make its tour hotspots and heritage sites more attractive and accessible alongside the application of efficient marketing practices with further research and development. Any restriction must be removed from the network of regional airlines companies. As part of the Blue Economy initiative, the country's maritime transportation with neighbouring countries can be facilitated with swift ferry services and cruise shipping. Besides, cross-border travellers should not face unnecessary delays due to customs and immigration complications at various entry points on the India-Bangladesh border.
Interestingly, South Asian countries can start joint initiatives at the operational levels of public-private partnership (PPP) to enhance thematic tourism circuits for the region. Thematically based on culture, heritage and religion, such initiative can bolster the cross-border movement of tourists into numerous sites of significance to boost people-to-people interactions in South Asia. Bangladesh should also publish and promote tourism directories for annual events in advance to secure tourism sales for sports, cultural, religious and corporate activities.
A seamless mechanism is needed to ensure a tourist-friendly environment with focus on relaxed visa policy, low-cost and safe travel, reasonable expenses and hassle-free cross-border movement of tourists. Plus, destination partnerships among regional countries can enable travel to three-four different countries with a single visa.
nabil.dewan@gmail.com
