Tourism revenue to total $2.0b a year, say experts
Wednesday, 27 October 2010
FE Report
Bangladesh can earn US$2.0 billion (Tk 140 billion) in annual revenue from the tourism sector if it can attract two million international tourists, industry leaders said Tuesday.
They also said if the country can attract two million international tourists by 2012; it will generate employment for an estimated two million people in the sector.
"At present, around 0.50 million international tourists visit Bangladesh each year. It employs one million people," member of Bangladesh Tourism Board (BTB) AKM Bari said.
He said if one tourist on an average spends $1000, it will become a huge earning for the country.
Bangladesh can be self-reliant with the earnings from its tourism industry as it has 100 per cent retention of foreign currency, said Mr Bari who is also a vice president of Association of Travel Agents, Bangladesh (ATAB).
"Now our leaders try to mobilise funds from developed nations and donors for implementing projects like Padma Bridge or other major national infrastructure. They will no more have to rely on others it if we can earn yearly Tk 140 billion from tourism," he told reporters in the city on the eve of 4th Dhaka Tourism Fair-2010.
The fair, which is scheduled to begin tomorrow (Thursday), aims to develop cross-border tourism products through public private partnership (PPP).
The three-day fair will be organised by Parjatan Bichitra in association with Bangladesh Parjatan Corporation and other industry groups.
He also said tourists are the "exports for the destination country as a tourist pays service charges in foreign currency" and Bangladesh has a huge potential in international tourism projects.
"The international tourists visiting Bangladesh now are mainly Bangladeshi born expatriate businessmen and investors who avail of the premium services in our country," he told the press conference.
Mr Bari, however, urged the government to implement its "on arrival visa" issuance decision for the international tourists.
According to a study of the World Tourism Organisation (WTO), every year 90 million tourists are being added globally and the number of tourists across the globe will be 1.6 billion.
Talking to the FE, general manager of Bangladesh Parjatan Corporation Keramat Ali said the revenue earning from the tourism sector is experiencing a downward trend.
"The revenue from tourism sector was Tk 6124.52 million in 2008, which came down to Tk 5737.90 million in 2009. Till June, the revenue was Tk 3121.47 million," said Keramat Ali.
Civil Aviation and Tourism Minister GM Kader is expected to inaugurate the fair as chief guest while civil aviation and tourism secretary Shafiq Alam Mehedi will be present on the concluding ceremony of the fair on 30 October.
Bangladesh can earn US$2.0 billion (Tk 140 billion) in annual revenue from the tourism sector if it can attract two million international tourists, industry leaders said Tuesday.
They also said if the country can attract two million international tourists by 2012; it will generate employment for an estimated two million people in the sector.
"At present, around 0.50 million international tourists visit Bangladesh each year. It employs one million people," member of Bangladesh Tourism Board (BTB) AKM Bari said.
He said if one tourist on an average spends $1000, it will become a huge earning for the country.
Bangladesh can be self-reliant with the earnings from its tourism industry as it has 100 per cent retention of foreign currency, said Mr Bari who is also a vice president of Association of Travel Agents, Bangladesh (ATAB).
"Now our leaders try to mobilise funds from developed nations and donors for implementing projects like Padma Bridge or other major national infrastructure. They will no more have to rely on others it if we can earn yearly Tk 140 billion from tourism," he told reporters in the city on the eve of 4th Dhaka Tourism Fair-2010.
The fair, which is scheduled to begin tomorrow (Thursday), aims to develop cross-border tourism products through public private partnership (PPP).
The three-day fair will be organised by Parjatan Bichitra in association with Bangladesh Parjatan Corporation and other industry groups.
He also said tourists are the "exports for the destination country as a tourist pays service charges in foreign currency" and Bangladesh has a huge potential in international tourism projects.
"The international tourists visiting Bangladesh now are mainly Bangladeshi born expatriate businessmen and investors who avail of the premium services in our country," he told the press conference.
Mr Bari, however, urged the government to implement its "on arrival visa" issuance decision for the international tourists.
According to a study of the World Tourism Organisation (WTO), every year 90 million tourists are being added globally and the number of tourists across the globe will be 1.6 billion.
Talking to the FE, general manager of Bangladesh Parjatan Corporation Keramat Ali said the revenue earning from the tourism sector is experiencing a downward trend.
"The revenue from tourism sector was Tk 6124.52 million in 2008, which came down to Tk 5737.90 million in 2009. Till June, the revenue was Tk 3121.47 million," said Keramat Ali.
Civil Aviation and Tourism Minister GM Kader is expected to inaugurate the fair as chief guest while civil aviation and tourism secretary Shafiq Alam Mehedi will be present on the concluding ceremony of the fair on 30 October.