Number of local tourists on the rise

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FE Report Bangladesh tourism industry secured 123rd position in 2012 against its previous 129th position due mainly high growth in local investment made for attracting growing numbers of local tourists, a global study said. The report shows the foreign visitors spent only 2.3 per cent of the total expenditure in 2012 against domestic spending of 97.7 per cent. The biennial report, published by the World Economic Forum early this month, showed that the country's tourism industry contributed Tk 193 billion to the GDP or 2.1 per cent in 2012. The report released recently forecasted that the contribution of tourism sector to GDP would increase to Tk 207.8 billion this year or 7.7 per cent of the GDP. The report also said the sector directly created a total of 1,281,500 employment in 2012 (1.8% of total employment) which will rise to 1,338,500 this year or 4.4 per cent. It predicted that the sector will create 1,785,000 jobs directly by 2023. The report reflected economic activities generated by industries such as hotels, travel agents, airlines and other passenger transportation services (excluding commuter services). But it also includes, for example, the activities of the restaurants and tourist spots directly supported by the tourists. The report projected that the direct contribution by travel & tourism sector to GDP is expected to grow by 6.4 per cent or Tk 384.7 billion by 2023. Switzerland, Germany, Austria, United Kingdom and the United States lead the index of 140 countries when Haiti, Chad and Burundi, Sierra Leon and Guinea were the bottom five. India moved to 65th from earlier 68th, Sri Lanka to 74th from 81st and Pakistan to 122nd from 125th when Nepal's position remained unchanged at 112th. The report, published under the theme, "reducing barriers to economic growth and job creation", sees considerable movement in the Index's top 10 countries. According to an estimate, 9,000 international standard rooms in hotels will be available in Bangladesh in next five years. In this connection initial contacts have been signed by some leading international chains already for construction of hotels and resorts in Dhaka, Chittagong, Cox's Bazar and Sylhet. For operations of these rooms nearly 15,000 trained workers will be needed for which more hospitality training institutes have to be established both in private and public sectors. According to Bangladesh Parjatan Corporation (BPC), during the financial year (2011-2012), the government allocated Tk.650.00 million to the corporation for promoting and branding Bangladesh. A bulk of this allocation has remained unused. The BPC participated in some international tourism fairs but their presentations were the poorest due to lack of experience.