B'desh misses boat as regional countries reap tourism boom

FE Report Speakers at a discussion said Friday Bangladesh is missing the enormous potential to attract overseas tourists due to lack of vigorous promotional drive. They said the government should team up with the private sector to help develop the tourism sector. The suggestion came at a discussion before the inauguration of a three-day international tourism fair titled Monitor-United Airways Dhaka Travel Mart (DTM)-2013 at a city hotel. Former advisor to the caretaker government and editor of The Independent Mahbubul Alam formally inaugurated the fair. He said Bangladesh has multiple tourist spots but there is not step to make them attractive to tourists. "There are numerous historical and natural tourist sites here. However, no facility is developed to attract the tourist on a large scale," he told the meeting. He said with its rivers and the largest mangrove forest -- the Sundarbans -- Bangladesh has many religious edifices including the Buddhist Bihar. Managing Director of Biman Bangladesh Airlines Ltd Abdullah Al Hasan said Bangladesh has vast potential to attract tourists. He mentioned that Biman Bangladesh is offering 25 per cent discount on economy class ticket price for some particular destinations in the fair. The Bangladesh Monitor, a travel and tourism publication, organised the fair for the tenth time. Private airline United Airways is the title sponsor of DTM-2013 and Eastern Bank Ltd is the banking partner while Biman Bangladesh Airlines is the airline partner. Bangladesh Tourism Board has also joined its hands as partner. Editor of The Bangladesh Monitor and chairman of the DTM-2013 organising committee Kazi Wahidul Alam presented the address of welcome at the inaugural ceremony. Chairman and Managing Director of United Airways Tasbirul Ahmed Choudhury, Managing Director and CEO of Eastern Bank Ltd Ali Reza Iftekhar and CEO of Bangladesh Tourism Board Akhteruz Zaman Khan spoke at the programme, among others. About 50 organisations from six countries- Malaysia, Thailand, Singapore, Turkey, Nepal and host Bangladesh are taking part in the DTM-2013. Participating organisations are offering special discounted airfares, tour packages and other attractive offers to the visitors. The visitors can visit the fair from 10:00 am to 8:00 pm paying an entry fee of Tk 20. A raffle draw on the entry coupons will be held on the concluding day at 7:30 pm at the fair venue tomorrow (Sunday), said the organisers.