Redirecting Bangladesh tourism traffic targetted

The bus service on Guwahati-Shillong-Dhaka bus which is going to start its trial run next month will generate greater interest in Bangladeshi tourists about Indian northeast region.
Bangladesh High Commissioner to India Tariq A Karim said this while speaking as the special guest at a meeting organised by the Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industries' (FICCI) tourism committee in Northeast in Guwahati on Wednesday, reports bdnews24.com.
The high commissioner expressed the hope that with the improvement in air, water and road connectivity with the India northeastern states, Bangladesh's tourism traffic will redirect to the region.
Mr Karim said both Bangladesh and India governments agree on the need for better connectivity between Indian northeast with Bangladesh but a few bottle necks needs to be cleared up.
"In the longer term we need to work out a mechanism where businessmen, professionals and goods from both sides can move freely," he said.
FICCI tourism committee's Chairman Dipanker Baruah, while highlighting the problems faced in promoting tourism in Bangladesh, informed the high commissioner that despite of their best efforts, they have not been able to generate better response in Assam or the other northeastern states about the neighbouring country.
He said people from Bangladesh prefer to travel to Kolkata for tourism, health services or any other important work, even though Guwahati in Assam has equally good hospitals.
In reply, the Bangladesh envoy advocated joint effort from both sides to improve connectivity.
Mr Karim mentioned that hospitals from Guwahati and other northern states should open their information centres in Bangladesh. This will help provide valuable inputs to the people.
Mr Karim also mentioned that trial run of the proposed new bus service will start between Guwahati-Shillong-Dhaka next month, providing a big step forward in connectivity between the two countries.
At the meeting, members of the FICCI North East advisory council highlighted the need for working together to ensure better physical and economic connectivity with the neighbouring country.