Bangladesh Tourism Board (BTB) has chalked out a series of programmes to observe the World Tourism Day 2014 on September 27 under the theme "Tourism and Community Development".
The day's programmes will begin with a colourful rally starting from Matshya Bhaban at 8:30 am to TSC of Dhaka University via Doel Chattar.
Tourism Minister Rashed Khan Menon and state minister for CHT Affairs Bir Bahadur Ushwe Sing will lead the rally. BTB will also arrange rallies and discussion meetings on various aspects of tourism in different districts with tourist attractions.
The programmes were announced Monday at a press briefing by BTB at its office in the city. BTB Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Akhteruzzaman Khan Kabir briefed the journalists.
BTB, the National Tourism Organisation (NTO) is responsible for organising all the programmes under the supervision of Civil Aviation and Tourism Ministry in collaboration with tourism stakeholders including Bangladesh Parjatan Corporation (BPC), different associations of the tour operators, hotel and motel owners and travel agents, Mr Kabir said.
"Like previous years, we have chalked out various programmes for Dhaka and other districts marking the day," he said, adding: this year's theme of the day is very important especially for Bangladesh as tourism industry can play a vital role in community development of the country.
Mr Kabir said BTB has taken a big programme centring Paharpur. Besides, a roadmap is underway to celebrate Tourism Year. While answering a question, Mr Kabir said a total of 0.6 million foreigners came to Bangladesh in 2012. But they have no information on the number of visitors in 2013.
Additional Secretary of tourism ministry Abu Hena M Rahmatul Munim also spoke at the press briefing.
He said increased turnout of domestic tourists will encourage foreign ones. He claimed that a significant number of visitors from India and China now visit Bangladesh. Mr Munim stressed on attracting more tourists from Russia and Brazil.
As part of the celebration, BTB will organise debate competition on tourism at TSC Cafeteria of Dhaka University with support from Dhaka University Debating Society at 3:00 pm.
Besides, BPC and BTB along with other stakeholders will hold a roundtable on this year's theme at Hotel Abakash at Mohakhali at 4:00 pm.
The government will arrange a special reception with souvenirs for the foreign tourists, who will arrive at Hazrat Shahjalal Airport on the day while BPC will organise food festival at its outlets along with other renowned hotels from September 26 to 28 to mark the day.
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