A true ambassador for B\\\'desh tourism

It was a lengthy process the Indian authority takes in issuing visas for the Chinese nationals that discouraged him to visit India. It was the visa-on-arrival opportunity offered by Bangladesh that made him take the risk to visit Bangladesh as he had a little knowledge about the country and some scary information about security and natural calamities.

But the first trip in 2013 ultimately proved to be the "most delightful" one for Tian Zhan, who hails from Dali city of Yunnan province in China. A photographer by profession, he was obsessed with finding interesting subjects for photography to introduce to his audience.

Mr Tian now visits Bangladesh at least two times a year for whom Bangladeshi people, their open lifestyle, selfless hospitality and beautiful nature like Cox's Bazar sea beach offer the best subject in the whole world.

"Indian authority told me to wait for a visa for one month. But I did not have much time. So I bought a Lonely Planet book and read about Bangladesh," Tian told the FE while having the first ever formal iftar in any Muslim country.

"In fact I was a bit scared as I read about hurricane, tornado and security problem in Bangladesh from the book of Lonely Planet. But my first trip turned into the most delightful trip in my life," he said.

He came all alone in 2013 and visited Khulna, and Barisal.

"Everywhere I went, I was surrounded by people who welcomed me. They were eager to know what my idea about Bangladesh was. I was so impressed and felt so proud that I felt obligation to tell my audience what they can see if they come here," said an excited Tian.

This time Tian has been leading a group of 12 photographers, arrived Dhaka Wednesday morning including eight women and four men. This is Tian's seventh visit to Bangladesh during which he has brought more than 80 Chinese photographers with special interest in people's life and happy crowd of Bangladesh. His last visit was during ijtema in January with 18 photographers on a 12-day trip.

"Photographers want to introduce different lifestyle to their audience. In China, we have huge people traveling during festivals. But they are not happy like the Bangladeshi home-goers during any occasion," he said.

"People sitting in a train cheer, shout whenever they see a foreigner. You can see happiness in the whole train. In China, people are different although they are not squeezed in a compartment," observed the young armature photographer who organises photographers' groups to visit various countries in the world.

Tian had to starve during his first trip in Bangladesh for 21 days as the curry type food was not at all liked by this Chinese man. But now he is almost adapted to all the local cuisines including paratha, chapatti, and Kachhi Biriyani at Al-Razzaq in Old Dhaka. The Chinese tourist group loves the hustle-bustle in old part of the city, mad rush of rickshaw-pullers and people.

He is enchanted with the lifestyle, happiness and hospitality of Bangladeshi people, but he is also amazed with the natural beauty of Cox's Bazar. He has won an international award for his photograph on Cox's Bazar beach.

"We love Cox's Bazar, Sri Mongol and Chittagong Hill Tracts. Although the sand is not that good in Cox's Bazar, it looks like a mirror during the sunset," he said.  

Mr Tian has also visited most of the South East Asian countries including India, Nepal, Myanmar, Laos and Thailand.

Regarding his experience, he said India receives more foreigners than Bangladesh and there are lots of temples to visit but not people's life. So Indian people do not care much about the visitors and they are a bit more commercial, which is not in the case for Bangladesh.

Tian remembered not a single complaint from any of his group members during all these trips to Bangladesh. But he found the Dhaka-Chittagong highway not in a good condition and the 15-hour journey from Dhaka to Cox's Bazar a painful one.

He suggested more promotional activities and exchange of people at the government level to inform more about such a beautiful and hospitable nation as Bangladesh. People in China know very little about Bangladesh. So the Bangladesh government should take steps to inform more to the Chinese people, he added.

Journey Plus chief executive Taufiq Rahman has been operating this group for the last three years. He said he was still unaware of how Tian found him and guessed his Nepalese counterpart may have told Tian about him.

"What I like most about Tian is he is operating tourist group to Bangladesh twice a year, although he is not a professional tour operator. He writes about Bangladesh in his blog, articles in magazine and posts the pictures for others to know," he said, adding other photographers who become interested seeing these photos are organised by Tian.

Mr Rahman thinks Bangladesh Tourism Board (BTB) and the government as whole should find out this kind of friends for Bangladesh tourism and reward them for what they are doing to promote Bangladesh.        

    msshova@gmail.com