Tourism can fetch more money than country’s RMG

Tourism sector can get the country more money than the readymade garment (RMG) sector now brings as the main export sector, says a government minister.
"The tourism industry may exceed RMG sector in terms of foreign-currency earnings in the near future," Civil Aviation and Tourism Minister Rashed Khan Menon told a meet Wednesday as experts sat for charting out the ways.     
He was speaking at the inaugural session of the meet titled 'Workshop on SWOT analysis of Bangladesh's tourism industry'. Bangladesh Tourism Board (BTB) arranged the workshop at the CIRDAP auditorium in the city.
Civil Aviation and Tourism Secretary Khorshed Alam Chowdhury, Bangladesh Parjatan Corporation Chairman Aparup Chowdhury and BTB Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Akhtaruz Zaman Khan Kabir also spoke on the prospects the sector holds.
Stakeholders like hoteliers, tour operators, academics and bureaucrats discussed and analysed the SWAT (Strength, Weakness, Opportunities, Threat) in the tourism sector at the workshop.
Speaking as chief guest, the Civil Aviation and Tourism Minister urged all concerned to work together for implementing the development projects to help the sector reach international standards, identifying the weaknesses and addressing those with sincerity.
"A tourism-friendly mindset coupled with collective effort is essential to solve the problems in tourism sector and ensure the go-forward," he said.
It won't work if things go in a traditional way, the minister said, stressing the need for establishing Tourism Authority for necessary infrastructure development of the tourism sector to flourish.
Menon said proper work plans and timely implementation of the plans, creating clear awareness among the mass people can move tourism towards becoming number-one foreign currency-earning sector.
"Even a decade ago, Malaysia had lagged behind. Now the tourism sector in Malaysia has become number-one foreign currency-earning sector," he said to set an instance.
"If Malaysia could do this, why couldn't we? He questioned.
The minister also urged all concerned government and non-governmental organizations to work together for a sustainable development of the sector.
Stakeholders demand some supports from the government, including helpful policy support and laws, implementation of Bangladesh Tourism Protected Area and Exclusive Tourist Zone Act 2010.
The beneficiaries said introduction of tourist police and hotel act, travel agents act and identifying tourism as the thrust sector in the industrial policy are a must for the sector to make a leap forward.  
They identified political unrest, lack of commitment by the government, proper definition of tourism, coordination between government and private stakeholders, tourist arrival and departure statistics and lack of promotion and marketing strategy as weaknesses to be addressed at the soonest possible.
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