Tourism campaign without ground preparation

Colourful and festive celebration of the ‘Tourism Year 2016’ without arranging tourist-friendly facilities at home would hardly do any good to the industry itself. In this context, a report published in this paper on Monday last merits attention. The report was about lack of preparations to celebrate the ‘Tourism Year 2016’. The question that arises here is about what such a celebration without proper preparations would do to promote tourism in the country. A campaign for a saleable product or service can at times be likened to a double-edged razor that can cut both ways. Maintaining sales operation of any bad quality product or service that is sought to be promoted as a good one through ads or fairs or campaigns is well-nigh impossible. Consumers, after using or consuming it once, will simply throw it away. No further campaign can entice the customers any more.

To be a tourist hub, Bangladesh has to make tourists feel that their visits to its various spots will be worth their money.  Occasional tourism fairs that are organised at home, have only gone to fatten the pockets of some organisers. The authorities need to draw up realistic plans to build necessary infrastructure and security networks in tourist spots on a priority bases. Tourists will come to Bangladesh to see places of interest, not to savour anything else, as simpletons do tend to suggest. They need accommodation at hotels at affordable prices, and easy and comfortable communication. Sadly, some of the country’s resorts charge so much money that it gives a feeling of tourism being considered in Bangladesh a one-time business only. Kolkata and Kathmandu which host hundreds of thousands of foreign tourists every year should set some examples before the country’s tourism authorities to take lessons from.

Archaeological sites and other tourist spots in Bangladesh need to be developed further. Many tourist sites cannot attract international tourists because of weak or poor infrastructure-related facilities. Both public and private sectors do need to put in their concerted efforts to help improve or develop such facilities. Many places in the country such as its sea beach, monasteries, temples and mosques, museums, forests, islands, hills and fountains have immense tourism potential. The authorities should also focus on ensuring security and safety at the tourist spots with the help of the local community. Many hotels in Cox's Bazar which claim to have four- or five-star status, do not have proper facilities to cater to the needs of foreign tourists. There is no resort in the Sundarbans either for overnight stay. Furthermore, the country also does not have enough professional tour guides and translators.

Also there is still no sense of direction for tour operators or organisers as to what products they are to sell at home and abroad. There is no point publicising dozens of tourist spots? Seven or eight key attractive spots can be identified for all-round development for tourists. Why is there not a two or three-night package tour aboard standard yachts in the Sundarbans rivers or for comfortable trips to the beach?  For all practical purposes, tourism is yet to assume a formal shape in Bangladesh, the land of the world’s longest natural beach as well as the biggest mangrove, the Sundarbans.  There is urgent need for simultaneously developing effective infrastructure-related facilities in tourist areas by providing the right kind of incentives.