T20 WC a boon for hospitality sector

A large number of foreigners, mostly cricket lovers, have come to Bangladesh to watch the ICC T20 World Cup, being held from March 16 through April 6.
After days of poor sales across the country, the hospitality sector is now doing brisk business thanks to the great sporting event.
The number of international tourists has increased by more than 60 per cent compared to that of last February, according to the Special Branch (SB) of Bangladesh Police.
Industry insiders also said the country's political environment has stabilised in recent times, and as a result large numbers of foreign people including tourists are flocking back to Bangladesh.
President of Tour Operators Association of Bangladesh (TOAB) Toufiq Uddin Ahmed told the FE: "The number of inbound foreign tourists has marked a sharp increase in recent weeks because of the mega event of T20 World Cup cricket, which is now going on".
He said the ICC T20 World Cup is a great opportunity to the hospitality industry for showing the country's natural beauties to the foreign visitors.
Mr Ahmed said the T20 World Cup has been helping the country's tour operators to attract inbound tourists here.
General Manager of Seagull Hotel at Cox's Bazar Nuruddin Ahmad told the FE: "A large number of foreigners are now staying in Bangladesh and many of them are booking hotel rooms here".
He said in the hospitality industry the peak season from November to February had passed without any tourists. Holidays like Eid, Puja, Christmas, Victory Day and the New Year also did not make any difference.
Public Relations Manager of Pan Pacific Sonargaon Hotel Salman Kabir told the FE: "To the country's hospitality industry the year 2013 was a really bad time in terms of revenue due to political unrest".
He said the T20 World Cup is touted as one of the biggest international events hosted in Bangladesh, so a large number foreigners intending to witness the game live are requesting for accommodation in the hotels.
Assistant General Manager of United Airways Kamrul Islam told the FE that the country's airlines business has had a massive spike with T20 World Cup as now a large number of foreign people are staying in the country.
He said their company has already sold out more than 95 per cent of their tickets on routes where the cricket tournament is being held - Dhaka, Chittagong and Sylhet.
He said three companies namely United Airways, Regent Airways and Novo Air are currently serving on the domestic routes.