Draft Tourism Act 2012 to be submitted to ministry by Feb

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Talha Bin Habib
The authorities of Bangladesh Tourism Board (BTB) are likely to submit the draft 'Bangladesh Tourism Act 2012' to the ministry concerned by next month, officials said.
"We are working on it. We hope to submit the draft Act to the Ministry of Civil Aviation and Tourism (MoCAT) by February after consultation with the stakeholders," Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of BTB Alim Uddin Ahmed told the FE Sunday.
He said during the immediate past caretaker government a draft was prepared on Bangladesh Tourism Act. But it was not approved finally by the then Cabinet.
But after assuming power, the present government started working on it. The MoCAT has directed the BTB to prepare a draft by incorporating all the existing tourism Acts into the proposed new Act.
The CEO of BTB said at present the country has a number of Acts to deal with tourism. These are: Bangladesh Tourism Protected Area and Exclusive Tourist Zone Act 2010, Bangladesh Tourism Board Act 2010, Bangladesh Hotel and Restaurant Ordinance and Bangladesh Travel Agencies Ordinance.
He also said the country has no policy to regulate the tour operators and rent-a-car businesses to provide best services to the tourists. Bangladesh Travel Agencies Ordinance 1976 will also be made up to date in the proposed Act.
He said the proposed Act would have separate chapters on Bangladesh Tourism Protected Area and Exclusive Tourist Zone Act 2010, Bangladesh Tourism Board Act 2010, Bangladesh Hotel and Restaurant Ordinance, Bangladesh Travel Agencies Ordinance, Tour Operators, Tourist Guides, Tourism Training Centres and Hotel and Restaurant Ordinance.
"The proposed tourism Act 2012 will incorporate all the existing Acts under one umbrella that can help gear up the tourism sector of the country," he added.
Mr Alim Uddin said the MoCAT, after getting the draft on the proposed tourism Act from BTB, would put it on its website to receive suggestions from the stakeholders.
There will be an inter-ministerial meeting to examine the draft Act. It would then go to the Cabinet for approval after vetting of the Ministry of Law, Justice and Parliamentary Affairs.
"During the July 2010-June 2011 period the country earned Tk 5,946.66 million from the tourism sector," the BTB CEO said adding that the amount would sharply increase if the proposed draft Act finally gets the Cabinet's approval and subsequent endorsement by Parliament.