Bangladesh's untapped tourism potentials
Saturday, 5 September 2009
Mohammad Shahidul Islam
MERE observance of the World Tourism Day with fanfare means nothing unless the issues plaguing tourism in Bangladesh are addressed. In Bangladesh tourism continues to be a non starter despite its pristine natural beauty, forests and wildlife, rivers and mountains, and multi-cultural heritage.
Why and how Bangladesh failed to transform its tourist potential remain questions without answers. But poor infrastructure continues to hamper the growth of tourism. Lack of connectivity to, and between, the tourist spots naturally raises questions about the government's priority fixation. The endangered world heritage sites like Paharpur and Sundarbans are not linked by proper roads. All-weather roads and proper accommodation and other facilities, that could draw tourists, are yet to be in place.
Tourism calls for aggressive marketing. Since government is not good at business it could become facilitators. And private investment should not be shy, given the facilities. Professionalism is what is needed from the government functionaries.
Bangladesh has to strive to get the success. Tourism can ensure benefits from a taxi driver to a five-star hotelier. Rhetoric is no substitute of work. Action, and not words, will change the face of tourism in this country.
A tourism worker, the writer is studying hospitality in West Midland, UK, and can be reached at: shahidbpc@gmail.com
MERE observance of the World Tourism Day with fanfare means nothing unless the issues plaguing tourism in Bangladesh are addressed. In Bangladesh tourism continues to be a non starter despite its pristine natural beauty, forests and wildlife, rivers and mountains, and multi-cultural heritage.
Why and how Bangladesh failed to transform its tourist potential remain questions without answers. But poor infrastructure continues to hamper the growth of tourism. Lack of connectivity to, and between, the tourist spots naturally raises questions about the government's priority fixation. The endangered world heritage sites like Paharpur and Sundarbans are not linked by proper roads. All-weather roads and proper accommodation and other facilities, that could draw tourists, are yet to be in place.
Tourism calls for aggressive marketing. Since government is not good at business it could become facilitators. And private investment should not be shy, given the facilities. Professionalism is what is needed from the government functionaries.
Bangladesh has to strive to get the success. Tourism can ensure benefits from a taxi driver to a five-star hotelier. Rhetoric is no substitute of work. Action, and not words, will change the face of tourism in this country.
A tourism worker, the writer is studying hospitality in West Midland, UK, and can be reached at: shahidbpc@gmail.com