\\\'Bangladesh needs to build image globally\\\'

The government has been focusing more on relaxation of visa procedure, introduction of e-visa and multiple entry visa along with other marketing and promotional activities to attract more international tourists to Bangladesh, a top government official said.
Besides, steps have been taken to make the Bangladeshi missions abroad to be more proactive and tourism-friendly which will give a boost to the country's one of the thrust sectors.
The official also laid emphasis on enforcing the Safe Food Act 2013 to promote culinary tourism in the country and make the Bangladeshi cuisine popular, safe and of international standard to both the domestic and international tourists.
"Our inbound tour operators who bring international visitors to our country face the first difficulty in getting visa from our missions abroad. Although there is on-arrival visa facility for some countries, I think we should widen the network for more countries," Bangladesh Tourism Board (BTB) chief executive officer (CEO) Akhteruzzaman Khan Kabir told the FE in an exclusive interview recently.
He said Bangladesh is yet to be popular with the international holiday makers, leisure or adventure tourists as a single tourist destination. The country still depends on extended tourists who come to visit India or Nepal or other countries of the sub-continent. It becomes difficult for those visitors who are not entitled for on-arrival visa to visit Bangladesh despite having come too close, he added.
"We see the number of backpackers has increased recently. Although visa procedure has been made easier recently, introduction of e-visa can attract more tourists than it is at present," Mr Kabir said, adding: Bangladesh still has restriction on multiple entry visa, but it is necessary for increasing the tourist flow.
He said the BTB has requested the home ministry to introduce e-visa and multiple entry visa and written to foreign ministry to take steps to make the Bangladeshi missions more proactive and tourism friendly.
A rather dissatisfied on the present growth of the tourism industry, the chief of the National Tourism Organisation (NTO) admitted the neighbouring countries like Myanmar, Nepal, India, Bhutan, Sri Lanka and even conflict-prone Pakistan are much advance in terms of tourist flow because of the image crisis of Bangladesh in the international arena.
"Bangladesh is still not so familiar to the general people of many countries and is known as a land of natural disaster and political instability. But in reality there are many countries which have more political instability than Bangladesh," Mr Kabir observed.
He said the country lags behind in image building for absence of aggressive campaign and branding in international forums and media for which huge investment for promotional activities is required.
The countries two significant image builders like Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BGMEA), Bangladesh Knitwear Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BKMEA) can play a vital role in branding the country along with Board of Investment (BoI) and BTB, he said.
Regarding the sectoral development plan, Mr Kabir said the government has been searching for investors for developing a planned tourism complex exclusively for international tourists with all international tourism and recreational facilities at Sabrung of Teknaf under Cox's Bazar. The government will provide all necessary infrastructure and utility support and establish one-stop service centre so that the investors should not run to multiple agencies for permission and zoning for various facilities.
"Although tourism has been declared as an industry, it has not yet earned the confidence of the foreign investors like our garment or manufacturing sector. I am hopeful tourism sector will also get the shape of a real industry within next 2/3 years," he said.
Many of the local entrepreneurs have made huge investment in property of tourism sector which will help give the confidence to the international investors.  
Besides the government has taken steps to establish various recreational facilities at Cox's Bazar where a rather chaotic and unplanned tourism has developed.
"I think Cox's Bazar is alright for the local tourists as they do not want bar, disco or nightclub there. But there must be some recreational facilities like cine complex at the hotel motel zone," said Mr Kabir.
Recently the government has recovered some of its occupied land in the hotel motel zone where cine complex will be built by leasing out the land through proper authority, Mr Kabir said, adding: a night bazar can also be established at the beach for nightlife activities provided the lighting of the beach area is sufficient.
Mr Kabir noted tourism was depended on many things but three things are basic, accommodation, food and recreation. Bangladesh should focus more on local food and craft.
Citing example of neighbouring Calcutta and tourism hub Thailand, he said street foods are very popular there as those are tasty, hygienically prepared and of international standard.
"We have problems with our food preparation and ingredients use which make the tasty food unacceptable and unpopular. If Calcutta can do it why cannot we?" he asked.
Mr Kabir suggested massive awareness campaign on hygienic food preparation and enforcement of Safe Food Act 2013 to promote culinary tourism in the country and popularize local food to the international visitors for the sake of protecting the industry.
On commenting on the theme of this year's World Tourism Day 2014, "Tourism and Community Development", Mr Kabir said, tourism cannot be sustainable and responsible tourism will not develop unless local community of the districts with tourism spots can be involved.
"We have to create awareness among the community people how tourists activities and spending can benefit them. A portion of the tourists' money can be provided to the community people to encourage them so that they themselves will protect the tourist spots," he added.
Mr Kabir thinks people are much more aware now than it was earlier because of various promotional activities of the board, publicity in media and priority to the highest body of the government. Still much more need to do for the sector, specially, coordinated activities by every concern ministry keeping in mind as a major economic sector as tourism is not a matter of a single ministry. Moreover special emphasis by the finance ministry in the budget session has added new dimension to the sector.