Why not a law for tourism? A tourism law is needed
Friday, 14 March 2008
Mohammad Shahidul Islam
A comprehensive law is needed for exploiting of Bangladesh's potentials for the development of tourism on modern lines.
Bangladesh's diverse and distinctive flora and fauna, including a unique mixture of species at the Sundarban and Chittagong Hill Tracts, should make it an attractive tourist destination.
Some rare wild plant and animal species, found in Bangladesh, have become a subject of growing international attention for conservation.
Deforestation and poaching of birds and animals are a threat to the development of tourism. It is time to initiate a long-term plan to develop Bangladesh as an internationally competitive tourist destination, supported by medium-term plan to enhance tourism in the region and short-term plan to develop new tourism destinations, products and attractions. It's also time to adopt measures for tourism development through enacting strict tourism law.
According to the World Tourism Council, last year tourism, among the world's largest industries, generated revenue over US$6.0 trillion. It provided 221 million jobs worldwide, with an expectation that by 2015 it will provide 269 million jobs. Between 2006 and 2015, tourism's growth rate is expected to average 4.6 per cent per year.
Bangladesh needs a tourism law to control deforestation and conserve its environment. The objectives of tourism law may be; development of the country, preservation of forests, fauna, flora, minerals, archaeological and heritage sites, a harmonious and balanced development, job creation, economic growth and private sector participation.
The law should promote conservation of biodiversity, marine and land ecosystems and establish coordination between institutions and their participation. Furthermore, it should aim at improvement of local communities, encouraging their active participation in the tourism sector, ensuring safety and tranquillity of tourists, consumers and suppliers of tourism services and promotion of equal rights and opportunities for all.
Being eclectic, the general tourism laws could apply to this industry in unexpected ways requiring compensation for disappointment.
The industry-specific laws are applicable to common inn-keepers and carrier doctrines to cover local, national and international regulations, involving governing this industry.
Travelling, involving cross border social, cultural and commercial transactions, raises more regulatory challenges for this industry than perhaps, any other.
Bangladesh's tourism potentials offer tremendous scope to expand domestic demand and attract foreign tourists.
The existing rules and regulations cannot meet the growing needs for the development of the tourism industry in the country.
A tourism law is needed to standardise and define tourism industry for its development.
The law is needed to evolve a system for a rational development and scientific utilisation of tourism resources, environmental protection and the protection of tourists' rights and interests.
Mohammad Shahidul Islam writes on issues of torism. Email:
mohd-s-islam@myway.com
A comprehensive law is needed for exploiting of Bangladesh's potentials for the development of tourism on modern lines.
Bangladesh's diverse and distinctive flora and fauna, including a unique mixture of species at the Sundarban and Chittagong Hill Tracts, should make it an attractive tourist destination.
Some rare wild plant and animal species, found in Bangladesh, have become a subject of growing international attention for conservation.
Deforestation and poaching of birds and animals are a threat to the development of tourism. It is time to initiate a long-term plan to develop Bangladesh as an internationally competitive tourist destination, supported by medium-term plan to enhance tourism in the region and short-term plan to develop new tourism destinations, products and attractions. It's also time to adopt measures for tourism development through enacting strict tourism law.
According to the World Tourism Council, last year tourism, among the world's largest industries, generated revenue over US$6.0 trillion. It provided 221 million jobs worldwide, with an expectation that by 2015 it will provide 269 million jobs. Between 2006 and 2015, tourism's growth rate is expected to average 4.6 per cent per year.
Bangladesh needs a tourism law to control deforestation and conserve its environment. The objectives of tourism law may be; development of the country, preservation of forests, fauna, flora, minerals, archaeological and heritage sites, a harmonious and balanced development, job creation, economic growth and private sector participation.
The law should promote conservation of biodiversity, marine and land ecosystems and establish coordination between institutions and their participation. Furthermore, it should aim at improvement of local communities, encouraging their active participation in the tourism sector, ensuring safety and tranquillity of tourists, consumers and suppliers of tourism services and promotion of equal rights and opportunities for all.
Being eclectic, the general tourism laws could apply to this industry in unexpected ways requiring compensation for disappointment.
The industry-specific laws are applicable to common inn-keepers and carrier doctrines to cover local, national and international regulations, involving governing this industry.
Travelling, involving cross border social, cultural and commercial transactions, raises more regulatory challenges for this industry than perhaps, any other.
Bangladesh's tourism potentials offer tremendous scope to expand domestic demand and attract foreign tourists.
The existing rules and regulations cannot meet the growing needs for the development of the tourism industry in the country.
A tourism law is needed to standardise and define tourism industry for its development.
The law is needed to evolve a system for a rational development and scientific utilisation of tourism resources, environmental protection and the protection of tourists' rights and interests.
Mohammad Shahidul Islam writes on issues of torism. Email:
mohd-s-islam@myway.com