Promoting tourism between Bangladesh and Asian countries*****
Thursday, 5 May 2011
Lt Col Md Shahadat Hossain (retd)
Tourism, in Bangladesh could not yet flourish as one of the largest industries which other wise have happened in many countries worldwide. However, due to many positive factors the potentiality of tourism in Bangladesh would be increased many folds in the coming years. Bangladesh, like many other countries, despite having limitations is trying best to improve its tourism industry. Last year the country enacted a law under the title 'Bangladesh Parjatan Board Act-2010' and the said board has already started functioning to promote the tourism in the country. Bangladesh needs to ensure many related matters to improve the situation of tourism to attract foreign tourists. Most important among them is the proper promotion of tourism. There is a great need to expose the green natural beauty, historical and cultural attractions of Bangladesh to out side world and the best way to expose these attractions to local and foreign potential visitors is to organise tourism trade fair. Well, different organisations related to tourism have increased organising such fairs in recent years for which more and more tourists, both locals and foreigners, are seen in different tourist attractions of Bangladesh. One such mega event named "Asian Tourism Fair ATF 2011 Dhaka" has been planned aiming at promoting the tourism between Bangladesh and Asian countries. The number of visitors at different tourist spots almost doubled during last Eid festival despite inadequate accommodation, lack of entertainment facilities and other limitations. A large number of people have celebrated Eid at different domestic tourist spots like Cox's Bazar, Bandarban, Rangamati, Kuakata and Sylhet which was reported by the media as well as tour operators. Hotel owners at the world's longest beach also expressed that the number of people touring Cox's Bazar during Eid holidays have been rising during the past couple of years. Bangladeshis have also increased their out bound tourism in recent years. It was estimated that last year alone, Malaysia had about 90,000 tourists from Bangladesh while Thailand received 70,000 or more. Nepal and Singapore also received about 50,000 or plus Bangladeshi tourists. About 2000 plus Bangladeshis visit India as tourists every day. Vietnam, Egypt, Turkey, Indonesia, China are also receiving substantial number of tourists. All these information are known from different data related to tourism. In the past there was no direct air link with China, but now there are two direct air links between Dhaka and China (kunming and Guanzhou or Canton). So, every day more and more people are visiting China to explore the opportunities related to trade, tourism, culture, education, sports etc. The visits by Chinese tourists to Bangladesh have also increased in recent years. It is also widely known that in the recent years Chinese people have increased their out bound tourism many folds due to change of individual as well as collective financial capabilities. So, there are huge potentialities to attract more and more Chinese out bound tourists to visit Bangladesh. Bangladesh government has declared 2011 as Tourism Year. Taking this opportunity, Parjatan Bichitra, a monthly tourism magazine, which had been organising "Dhaka Tourism Fair" for the last four years, has planned to organise the fair in a larger scale by naming it as "Asian Tourism Fair 2011 (ATF Dhaka) which is scheduled to be held on 29-30 September and 1st October 2011. The aim is to expose tourist attractions of Bangladesh, create tourism awareness among people, promote different local and foreign tour operators, and establishes links and relationship between local and foreign tour operators. The "ATF-Dhaka" would be organised by Parjatan Bichitra in collaboration with Bangladesh Tourism Board BTB, the national tourism organization at the Bangabandhu NOVO Theatre, Dhaka with the support of Ministry of Civil Aviation and Tourism, Government of the People's Republic of Bangladesh. Mr. Ghulam Muhammed Quader M.P, Minister for Civil Aviation and Tourism is the Chief Advisor of ATF-Dhaka 2011. Editor of The Parjatan Bichitra Mr. Mohiuddin Helal is the Chief Coordinator. The upcoming Asian Tourism Fair 2011 definitely would contribute significantly for the promotion of tourism in Bangladesh in particular, and between countries of Asia in general. As such, the organisers expect participation of tour operators, travel agents, airlines, hotel & resorts, hospitals, educational institutions, transportation service providers, buyers, journalists, ministers & govt. officials, association heads and cultural troupes from home and abroad.. According to the organisers, such mega event involving participating countries from Asia would be first of its kind in Bangladesh. Arrangements are being made to offer 172 stalls in the biggest air conditioned exhibition venue in the country. The organisers are expecting around 50 foreign exhibitors and 50,000 visitors from Bangladesh and abroad. More information about the Asian Tourism Fair 2011, ATF-Dhaka may be available at www.tourismfair.asia, www.asiantourismfair.com . The organizers at a press conference held recently noted that they always try to contribute maximum for the promotion of relations between Bangladesh and other Asian countries in the field of tourism. The fair would contribute more for the promotion of tourism between Bangladesh and other Asian countries. The organisers further hoped that the nations of Asia in particular and other interested countries of the world in general would take the lead and ensure maximum participation in the ATF Dhaka which will promote greater understanding, create trust and confidence, build economic and cultural relations between the peoples of Bangladesh and the participation countries. However, a lot of efforts would be required to coordinate properly with appropriate authorities, tourism organizations and associations, news agencies and friends from different countries to attract maximum participation as well as promoting cultural and economic tourism. Organisers invited suggestions from interested quarters for successful holding of this mega event and also urged the people from all walks of life to visit the fair for the promotion of tourism in Bangladesh in particular and between the countries of Asia in general. The writer is the Consultant and Coordinator of Asian Tourism Fair 2011, ATF-Dhaka and can be reached to shahadatb@gmail.com
Tourism, in Bangladesh could not yet flourish as one of the largest industries which other wise have happened in many countries worldwide. However, due to many positive factors the potentiality of tourism in Bangladesh would be increased many folds in the coming years. Bangladesh, like many other countries, despite having limitations is trying best to improve its tourism industry. Last year the country enacted a law under the title 'Bangladesh Parjatan Board Act-2010' and the said board has already started functioning to promote the tourism in the country. Bangladesh needs to ensure many related matters to improve the situation of tourism to attract foreign tourists. Most important among them is the proper promotion of tourism. There is a great need to expose the green natural beauty, historical and cultural attractions of Bangladesh to out side world and the best way to expose these attractions to local and foreign potential visitors is to organise tourism trade fair. Well, different organisations related to tourism have increased organising such fairs in recent years for which more and more tourists, both locals and foreigners, are seen in different tourist attractions of Bangladesh. One such mega event named "Asian Tourism Fair ATF 2011 Dhaka" has been planned aiming at promoting the tourism between Bangladesh and Asian countries. The number of visitors at different tourist spots almost doubled during last Eid festival despite inadequate accommodation, lack of entertainment facilities and other limitations. A large number of people have celebrated Eid at different domestic tourist spots like Cox's Bazar, Bandarban, Rangamati, Kuakata and Sylhet which was reported by the media as well as tour operators. Hotel owners at the world's longest beach also expressed that the number of people touring Cox's Bazar during Eid holidays have been rising during the past couple of years. Bangladeshis have also increased their out bound tourism in recent years. It was estimated that last year alone, Malaysia had about 90,000 tourists from Bangladesh while Thailand received 70,000 or more. Nepal and Singapore also received about 50,000 or plus Bangladeshi tourists. About 2000 plus Bangladeshis visit India as tourists every day. Vietnam, Egypt, Turkey, Indonesia, China are also receiving substantial number of tourists. All these information are known from different data related to tourism. In the past there was no direct air link with China, but now there are two direct air links between Dhaka and China (kunming and Guanzhou or Canton). So, every day more and more people are visiting China to explore the opportunities related to trade, tourism, culture, education, sports etc. The visits by Chinese tourists to Bangladesh have also increased in recent years. It is also widely known that in the recent years Chinese people have increased their out bound tourism many folds due to change of individual as well as collective financial capabilities. So, there are huge potentialities to attract more and more Chinese out bound tourists to visit Bangladesh. Bangladesh government has declared 2011 as Tourism Year. Taking this opportunity, Parjatan Bichitra, a monthly tourism magazine, which had been organising "Dhaka Tourism Fair" for the last four years, has planned to organise the fair in a larger scale by naming it as "Asian Tourism Fair 2011 (ATF Dhaka) which is scheduled to be held on 29-30 September and 1st October 2011. The aim is to expose tourist attractions of Bangladesh, create tourism awareness among people, promote different local and foreign tour operators, and establishes links and relationship between local and foreign tour operators. The "ATF-Dhaka" would be organised by Parjatan Bichitra in collaboration with Bangladesh Tourism Board BTB, the national tourism organization at the Bangabandhu NOVO Theatre, Dhaka with the support of Ministry of Civil Aviation and Tourism, Government of the People's Republic of Bangladesh. Mr. Ghulam Muhammed Quader M.P, Minister for Civil Aviation and Tourism is the Chief Advisor of ATF-Dhaka 2011. Editor of The Parjatan Bichitra Mr. Mohiuddin Helal is the Chief Coordinator. The upcoming Asian Tourism Fair 2011 definitely would contribute significantly for the promotion of tourism in Bangladesh in particular, and between countries of Asia in general. As such, the organisers expect participation of tour operators, travel agents, airlines, hotel & resorts, hospitals, educational institutions, transportation service providers, buyers, journalists, ministers & govt. officials, association heads and cultural troupes from home and abroad.. According to the organisers, such mega event involving participating countries from Asia would be first of its kind in Bangladesh. Arrangements are being made to offer 172 stalls in the biggest air conditioned exhibition venue in the country. The organisers are expecting around 50 foreign exhibitors and 50,000 visitors from Bangladesh and abroad. More information about the Asian Tourism Fair 2011, ATF-Dhaka may be available at www.tourismfair.asia, www.asiantourismfair.com . The organizers at a press conference held recently noted that they always try to contribute maximum for the promotion of relations between Bangladesh and other Asian countries in the field of tourism. The fair would contribute more for the promotion of tourism between Bangladesh and other Asian countries. The organisers further hoped that the nations of Asia in particular and other interested countries of the world in general would take the lead and ensure maximum participation in the ATF Dhaka which will promote greater understanding, create trust and confidence, build economic and cultural relations between the peoples of Bangladesh and the participation countries. However, a lot of efforts would be required to coordinate properly with appropriate authorities, tourism organizations and associations, news agencies and friends from different countries to attract maximum participation as well as promoting cultural and economic tourism. Organisers invited suggestions from interested quarters for successful holding of this mega event and also urged the people from all walks of life to visit the fair for the promotion of tourism in Bangladesh in particular and between the countries of Asia in general. The writer is the Consultant and Coordinator of Asian Tourism Fair 2011, ATF-Dhaka and can be reached to shahadatb@gmail.com