Govt to cough up Tk 2.0b for tourism upgrades

The government is preparing a master plan to develop existing and potential tourism spots, which can help attract foreign tourists, reports UNB.
The disclosure came at a meeting of the Bangladesh Tourism Council held Wednesday at the Prime Minister's Office with prime minister, also the council chief, Sheikh Hasina in the chair.
The master plan was approved at the 25th meeting of the governing body of the Bangladesh Tourism Board held in December last, PM's press secretary AKM Shameem Chowdhuri told reporters after the .
He said 'Visit Bangladesh Year 2016' will be observed in the country next year in order to expedite the development of the country's tourism industry, and necessary steps have been taken for the purpose.
He said around TK 2.0 billion (200 crore) will be spent in the next three years through 2018 financial years for the implementing necessary programmes.
Speaking at the meeting, the prime minister said there is a huge scope for attracting foreign tourists to Bangladesh if the country's existing tourist spots can be made attractive.
She said not only the sea beaches, measures should be there to
encourage tourists for river cruises alongside utilising the old heritage, establishments, relics, tea gardens and scenic areas in the Chittagong Hill Tracts.
Stressing the need for creating tourism awareness among the people, the prime minister said domestic tourism should be promoted to attract more foreign tourists.
Noting that Bangladesh's geographical location is favourable to  tourism, Hasina said Cox's Bazar should be built as a planned tourist spot since it is a tourism town.
She said a marine drive would be built in the area while the Kuakata should be developed as a proper tourists spot since the tourists there have a very rare opportunity to see both the sunrise and sunset.
Citing scope for package tourism with Nepal and Bhutan, the prime minister said those who come to see the Himalayas from abroad could also come to Bangladesh to see the sea beach while winding up their tours.
She said that the Maldives, Sri Lanka and India could be linked to operate ocean cruises in the region.
The Prime Minister said her government has a plan to set up an exclusive zone in Cox's Bazar for the foreign tourists and for this communication system should have to be improved.  She said the government also has a plan to construct a marine drive from Mirsarai-Cox's Bazar-Teknaf alongside ensuring bay watch, hill watch, Eco-tourism and Safari park.
Hasina said the world's largest mangrove forest the Sundarbans should be brought under the Eco-system and it should be portrayed more attractively before the local and foreign tourists.
The meeting decided that a master plan would be formulated by the Ministry of Civil Aviation and Tourism to make the areas adjacent to the Mazar of Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman at Tungipara in Gopalganj as an attractive tourist spot without harming the natural beauty of that rural area.
The meeting was also discussed connecting Bangladesh to international river cruise in the Asia-pacific region as currently a river cruise is being operated from Chennai of India through Andaman, Myanmar, Thailand and Malaysia and thus ending up in Singapore.
She said if Bangladesh is connected to that cruise through signing of protocols with India and some other countries, then this Asia Pacific Ocean Cruise could be operated connecting Kolkata and Bangladesh.
PM's Press Secretary said the meeting also discussed simplifying on-arrival visa, introducing long-term multiple visa and e-visa for making the country's tourism sector more attractive.
The meeting also discussed launching tourism circuits in the country centering various archeological and traditional religious establishments.
National tourism council members, including ministers and secretaries concerned attended the meeting.