The government alongside the private sector has come up with exclusive offers for foreign tourists as part of the broader effort to make the Tourism Year 2016 a success.
The offers include discounts in air tickets and hotel rents to attract one million foreign tourists during and after the tourism year.
The Bangladesh Parjatan Corporation (BPC) and Bangladesh Tourism Board (BTB) made the announcement at a press conference at National Press Club Wednesday.
BPC Chairman Aparup Chowdhury and BTB chief executive officer (CEO) Akhtaruz Zaman
Khan Kabir briefed on various offers and special facilities to be offered by airlines and hotels for tourists during Visit Bangladesh 2016 programme.
The biggest discount offer was made by government owned five-star Sonargaon Pan Pasific Hotel with 50 per cent rebate on room rent except VAT and services charges depending on availability space.
Besides, the Biman Bangladesh Airlines will offer 10 per cent rebate on ticket purchase while BPC will offer 30 per cent discount on room rent and 20 per cent discount of lunch and dinner.
Private airline Novoair will offer 15 per cent discount on purchasing tickets for the passengers under package tour.
Asked about the role of foreign missions abroad to promote tourism, BTB CEO Akhtaruz Zaman said they are in discussion with the foreign ministry so that the information can be disseminated through missions for the foreign nationals.
He said this is a small component of their year-long initiative. "We're hopeful that we'll be able to come up with more facilities."
The BTB CEO also said they have a plan to launch media campaign through airing TV commercials on Visit Bangladesh on BBC and CNN.
He said they have already prepared an event calendar, which is likely to be approved in August and be sent to missions abroad.
Mr Khan said they will host the Buddhist Tourism Circuit Conference in the city to be held at the Bangabandhu International Conference Center (BICC) on October 27-28.
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina will inaugurate the conference, he said adding that there would be a workshop on 01 September before the conference.
BSS adds, Dr Aparup Chowdhury said they have discussed with other private airlines and hotels and they assured them of joining with the BPC and BTB to offer special facilities for tourists targeting the tourism year.
He said all the stakeholders of the tourism industry including the public sector urged the government to ease the tourist visa procedure through initiating e-visa and widening the on arrival visa system to enter Bangladesh.
"It is true we have security concern, but in the name of security we can't resist foreign tourist to enter Bangladesh," he said.
The BTB CEO said the government has already taken a decision to form a taskforce comprising representatives from three ministries - Civil Aviation and Tourism, Foreign Affairs and Home Affairs to resolve all problems regarding easing the visa issuing procedure.
Noting that Bangladesh is now focusing Chinese tourism, he said they will host an International Conference on Buddhist Tourism Circuit Conference of the Asian Countries to be held at the Bangabandhu International Conference Center (BICC) here on October 27-28, to be inaugurated by Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina.
There will be a workshop on September 1 at CIRDAP auditorium here before the conference, he added.
The BTB CEO said they have planned to conduct a massive Bangladesh tourism promotional campaign to the international media. "We are going to telecast out television commercial to BBC and CNN soon to make the foreign tourists know about our tourism products," he said.
The government has allocated Tk 2.0 billion (200 crore) centering the Tourism Year to give a boost to the country's tourism industry.
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