Some amendments to tourism policy on the cards

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Syed Ishtiaque RezabrThe government's plan to form two separate bodies related to travel and tourism aimed at revamping the sector is going on in full swing. According to the plan, one entity will deal with granting of licences to intending travel agents and tour operators while the other will handle the promotion and marketing of tourism activities in the country. brOfficials said the government is also planning to make amendments in the tourism policy to give the sector a boost. The hospitality industry in the country is also witnessing a growth in the number of hotels that cater to tourists needs. It is perceived by the government tourism related bodies that they can host around 1.7 million foreign tourists in the country by the year 2021. brThe civil aviation and tourism ministry reportedly has already drafted the plan, which envisages speedy infrastructure development for promotion of tourism. The ministry, sources said, is moving with a target to earn about Tk. 32 billion by 2021, the year Bangladesh will celebrate its 50th anniversary of independence. brThe plan has forwarded a number of proposals to remove obstacles to the growth of the country's tourism sector. Legal issues are being streamlined to bring the private sector travel operators both from home and abroad in the forefront to activate the tourism sector. brAccording to a report of the World Travel Tourism Council Bangladesh travel and tourism economy ranked number 94 in absolute size worldwide, 170 in relative contribution to national economies and 31 in long-term (10-year) growth. brIt said Bangladesh's tourism industry will contribute around 4. 0 percent or over US$ 6.39 billion to the country's GDP by 2018 if the government of the country can develop required infrastructures.