Cricket and tourism in Bangladesh
Saturday, 16 February 2008
Mohammad Shahidul Islam
GROWING popularity of cricket in Bangladesh can reshape its tourism and hospitality industry. Cricket and style go together. So should the cricket fans and their tours. That cricket boosts tourism can be seen from the instances of the West Indies, Dubai, Sharja and India. The West Indies is the archetype for tourism development through cricket. They have been marketing tourism through cricket since the first world cup held in 1975. Sharja, India, Australia, South Africa and Sri Lanka, all attract more tourists since they emerged as well known cricket venues.
Sports tourists now hugely choose these destinations for recreation and entertainment. Cricket is next to soccer in popularity, the world over. In Bangladesh too cricket is becoming more popular. Now playing in the world cup we are seen as the giant killers. Not known for following a well planned path for tourist development, Bangladesh could exploit cricket to promote it.
Cricket and tourism may go hand in hand in Bangladesh. We can, one day, expect to clinch the world cup. We are not far from our dream for developed tourism. Nature gave us a diversity. Except deserts, we possess all its gift. Our tourist potential could be better exploited using cricket.
The cricket commentators and media partners play a significant role in lifting a country's image. Say, how is the venue, its importance, what the people or the players of the country do, what they shop and where they go -- everything catches up the imagination of the millions of cricket fans across the world. They commentators bring the country and the venue into spotlight. Dhaka is now known among cricket fans the world over. Our resort city, Cox's Bazaar can be a venue for international cricket. Cricket can make Cox's Bazaar more known across the world. We should think of developing Cox's Bazaar as a cricket venue. Cricket spectators from all over the world would then visit Cox's Bazaar to support their teams. They would love to spend their spare time in the resort city, washed by the bay.
Cricket is becoming a passion among our youth. The zeal and sense of competition with which the game is played is worth watching. Cricket is to Bangladesh what soccer is to Brazil. Sports remain the harbinger of friendship and peace. We are optimistic to develop tourism through cricket. From the existing trends we can anticipate that Bangladesh would always have a busy cricketing calendar. With the cricket teams the fans also move from one country to another, from one part of a country to another. Thousands of foreign fans will pour from time to time from different parts of the world to support their teams. The hotels will remain booked for a couple of days, before and after the events.
New hotels and motels would come up to accommodate the growing number of cricket tourists. We should put in place online booking.
They would also love to go around the country. Venues like Chittagong, Dhaka, Bogra, Narayanganj, Sylhet, Rajshahi, Comilla and Cox's Bazaar can be famous for cricket as well as attractive tourist destinations.
Hotels and motels in Bangladesh will have to gear up for new business. Bangladesh would host world cup 2011 with India and Pakistan. We shall stage the opening ceremony as well. So we need to concentrate urgently on establishing an international cricket venue in idyllic Cox's Bazaar. Potential investors want to set up big and quality hotels in Cox's Bazaar. They already invested thousands of dollars there. They can expect good returns from cricket tourism at Cox's Bazaar.
Cox's Bazar can emerge as a centre for package tourism linking the Maldives, Myanmar, Sri Lanka, India, Thailand and Nepal.
The writer works for National Tourism Organisation.
Email: mohd-s-islam@myway.com
GROWING popularity of cricket in Bangladesh can reshape its tourism and hospitality industry. Cricket and style go together. So should the cricket fans and their tours. That cricket boosts tourism can be seen from the instances of the West Indies, Dubai, Sharja and India. The West Indies is the archetype for tourism development through cricket. They have been marketing tourism through cricket since the first world cup held in 1975. Sharja, India, Australia, South Africa and Sri Lanka, all attract more tourists since they emerged as well known cricket venues.
Sports tourists now hugely choose these destinations for recreation and entertainment. Cricket is next to soccer in popularity, the world over. In Bangladesh too cricket is becoming more popular. Now playing in the world cup we are seen as the giant killers. Not known for following a well planned path for tourist development, Bangladesh could exploit cricket to promote it.
Cricket and tourism may go hand in hand in Bangladesh. We can, one day, expect to clinch the world cup. We are not far from our dream for developed tourism. Nature gave us a diversity. Except deserts, we possess all its gift. Our tourist potential could be better exploited using cricket.
The cricket commentators and media partners play a significant role in lifting a country's image. Say, how is the venue, its importance, what the people or the players of the country do, what they shop and where they go -- everything catches up the imagination of the millions of cricket fans across the world. They commentators bring the country and the venue into spotlight. Dhaka is now known among cricket fans the world over. Our resort city, Cox's Bazaar can be a venue for international cricket. Cricket can make Cox's Bazaar more known across the world. We should think of developing Cox's Bazaar as a cricket venue. Cricket spectators from all over the world would then visit Cox's Bazaar to support their teams. They would love to spend their spare time in the resort city, washed by the bay.
Cricket is becoming a passion among our youth. The zeal and sense of competition with which the game is played is worth watching. Cricket is to Bangladesh what soccer is to Brazil. Sports remain the harbinger of friendship and peace. We are optimistic to develop tourism through cricket. From the existing trends we can anticipate that Bangladesh would always have a busy cricketing calendar. With the cricket teams the fans also move from one country to another, from one part of a country to another. Thousands of foreign fans will pour from time to time from different parts of the world to support their teams. The hotels will remain booked for a couple of days, before and after the events.
New hotels and motels would come up to accommodate the growing number of cricket tourists. We should put in place online booking.
They would also love to go around the country. Venues like Chittagong, Dhaka, Bogra, Narayanganj, Sylhet, Rajshahi, Comilla and Cox's Bazaar can be famous for cricket as well as attractive tourist destinations.
Hotels and motels in Bangladesh will have to gear up for new business. Bangladesh would host world cup 2011 with India and Pakistan. We shall stage the opening ceremony as well. So we need to concentrate urgently on establishing an international cricket venue in idyllic Cox's Bazaar. Potential investors want to set up big and quality hotels in Cox's Bazaar. They already invested thousands of dollars there. They can expect good returns from cricket tourism at Cox's Bazaar.
Cox's Bazar can emerge as a centre for package tourism linking the Maldives, Myanmar, Sri Lanka, India, Thailand and Nepal.
The writer works for National Tourism Organisation.
Email: mohd-s-islam@myway.com