BD to take part in

Kamrun Nahar A 19-member team of private tour operators and government officials will leave Dhaka tomorrow (Saturday) to take part in the World Travel Market (WTM) in London beginning from November 7, said a top tour operator. WTM is the second biggest tourism fair in the world (after travel trade show Internationale Tourismus-Borse (ITB) Berlin) which is held from 7 to 10 November every year. More than 150 countries from across the globe participate in this fair organised by Reed Travel Exhibitions for about last 30 years. The number of participants in the last fair was 166. "The objective of participating in this WTM is to showcase Bangladeshi tourism products to the UK and other European tourists and to attract them to visit the country as Europe is a long-haul leisure market for us," said Taufiq Rahman, chief executive of Journey Plus, an in-bound tour operator. Statistics show that UK ranks number 2 in providing leisure tourists for Bangladesh after Japan. Out of total 19 members of the team 14 are private tour operators and one hotel along with four members from Bangladesh Tourism Board (BTB), said Taufiq. The lone hotel taking part in this exhibition is Dhaka Regency. Other tour operators include Journey Plus, Bengal Tours, Silver Wave, Safari Plus, Green Holidays Tours, River and Green Tours, Blue Sky Holidays, Sundarban Tourist Complex, Tour Planners, Galaxy Holidays, Mangrove Tourism, Experience Bangladesh. etc.