Destination Bangladesh
M Haider Uzzaman | Tuesday, 10 June 2008
TOURISM is considered as a pride in many countries because this sector plays a vital role in the country's gross domestic product (GDP). All tourism-based economies try to motivate the related service based sectors to keep up their supporting services. At present, the number of tourists is so less in our country that we can hardly call it the "tourism sector". However, we cannot blame that right now as the infrastructure required for this sector to flourish is not up to the mark. Compared to other developing countries' infrastructure, we can say that ours is quite good.
Due to my deep love for travelling, I got the opportunity to visit many countries. African countries like Kenya and Tanzania are reasonably developed in the tourism sector. Again, if we look at our next door, Nepal is doing well, too.
Their infrastructure is no way better than ours; rather, we see that some of their points are inferior to us. During travelling, I had to go through many places where the transportation system was not good enough. Especially to visit the animals in Kenya and the forests and wild life in Tanzania, tourists have to go through a lot of trouble. Compared to that, the journey to our country's Sundarban, Rangamati and Bandarban is much more easy and comfortable.
I am working in this country's service sector for almost two decades. From my long experience, what I realise is that the most burning necessity is marketing of the tourism sector in Bangladesh. There are many shortcomings, but that should not demotivate us. Rather, we should do the best possible with whatever we have. Not only the airlines which are operating in Bangladesh but also the Bangladeshi airlines are coming up with lucrative packages to go abroad. If Bangladesh is really poor and there are not many people who are interested in travelling, then why would the airlines offer all those attractive packages? Of course, to attract all those who love travelling from Bangladesh the airlines are giving all those catchy offers.
Many of the friendly countries like Malaysia, India, Thailand, and Singapore are prospering with the tourism sector. They are able to attract innumerous tourists into their country. If we turn on BBC or CNN, we see loads of advertisements of Malaysia, Truly Asia, Incredible India and Swasdee trying to draw tourists from around the globe.
If we look at the activities of the Malaysian government, we see that whenever they make any special announcements, then their ambassadors are very prompt in promoting that offer. We get the live proof when we see the active role played by the Malaysian High Commission in Dhaka for attracting tourism.
Our country has scores of facilities like AC coaches, good roads, the tour operator board's travel guides, hotels and a lot of other amenities. Airlines are booming rapidly as well. So what is it that we still lack in? I have been thinking about it and I've found the answer -- marketing. We can promote and spread our Bangladeshi tourism under the label 'Destination Bangladesh'. Government as well as non-government sectors should give their full effort to encourage Bangladeshi Tourism.
Moreover, the Bangladeshi Airlines should make more packages on Bangladesh and promote them abroad. If this increases the flow of tourists even marginally, we should be contented. Those tourists will again be our "ambassadors" in promoting the sincere hospitality of the Bangladeshi people. This will enhance our goodwill internationally and attract more tourists in future because there are very few countries where such heart-felt hospitality is offered. I hope that our friends in this sector will agree with me.
The writer can be reached at e-mail: haider@bestairbd.com
Due to my deep love for travelling, I got the opportunity to visit many countries. African countries like Kenya and Tanzania are reasonably developed in the tourism sector. Again, if we look at our next door, Nepal is doing well, too.
Their infrastructure is no way better than ours; rather, we see that some of their points are inferior to us. During travelling, I had to go through many places where the transportation system was not good enough. Especially to visit the animals in Kenya and the forests and wild life in Tanzania, tourists have to go through a lot of trouble. Compared to that, the journey to our country's Sundarban, Rangamati and Bandarban is much more easy and comfortable.
I am working in this country's service sector for almost two decades. From my long experience, what I realise is that the most burning necessity is marketing of the tourism sector in Bangladesh. There are many shortcomings, but that should not demotivate us. Rather, we should do the best possible with whatever we have. Not only the airlines which are operating in Bangladesh but also the Bangladeshi airlines are coming up with lucrative packages to go abroad. If Bangladesh is really poor and there are not many people who are interested in travelling, then why would the airlines offer all those attractive packages? Of course, to attract all those who love travelling from Bangladesh the airlines are giving all those catchy offers.
Many of the friendly countries like Malaysia, India, Thailand, and Singapore are prospering with the tourism sector. They are able to attract innumerous tourists into their country. If we turn on BBC or CNN, we see loads of advertisements of Malaysia, Truly Asia, Incredible India and Swasdee trying to draw tourists from around the globe.
If we look at the activities of the Malaysian government, we see that whenever they make any special announcements, then their ambassadors are very prompt in promoting that offer. We get the live proof when we see the active role played by the Malaysian High Commission in Dhaka for attracting tourism.
Our country has scores of facilities like AC coaches, good roads, the tour operator board's travel guides, hotels and a lot of other amenities. Airlines are booming rapidly as well. So what is it that we still lack in? I have been thinking about it and I've found the answer -- marketing. We can promote and spread our Bangladeshi tourism under the label 'Destination Bangladesh'. Government as well as non-government sectors should give their full effort to encourage Bangladeshi Tourism.
Moreover, the Bangladeshi Airlines should make more packages on Bangladesh and promote them abroad. If this increases the flow of tourists even marginally, we should be contented. Those tourists will again be our "ambassadors" in promoting the sincere hospitality of the Bangladeshi people. This will enhance our goodwill internationally and attract more tourists in future because there are very few countries where such heart-felt hospitality is offered. I hope that our friends in this sector will agree with me.
The writer can be reached at e-mail: haider@bestairbd.com