Bangladesh tourism master plan expected to be completed by year-end
Dhaka
: Bangladesh is aiming to complete its long-delayed national tourism master
plan by the end of this year as authorities seek to improve visitor services
and promote the country as an international destination, Bangladesh Tourism
Board (BTB) Chief Executive Officer Barrister Mutasim Billah Faruqui said.
Speaking
at a meeting with members of the Aviation and Tourism Journalists' Forum of
Bangladesh (ATJFB) at the BTB office in Agargaon, Faruqui said the board has
made better tourist services and facilities a priority.
He
said the BTB intends to align its future activities with the master plan once
it is finalized and accelerate projects designed to improve conditions at
tourist destinations.
The
tourism strategy was originally launched by the BTB in 2019 but has been held
up by administrative complications, the COVID-19 pandemic and subsequent
changes within the government. The document was also returned for additional
review and revision before the latest effort to complete it.
The
government is now preparing an integrated framework covering about 1,498
tourist attractions nationwide. The plan is expected to focus on organized
development while giving greater importance to environmentally responsible and
sustainable tourism.
Faruqui
said a number of projects are already in place to upgrade tourist facilities
and services, adding that the board wants to move ahead with their
implementation without unnecessary delays.
"We
have several projects aimed at enhancing tourist facilities and services, and
we want to implement them quickly," he said.
The
BTB is also looking to expand Bangladesh's reach in overseas tourism markets.
Faruqui said the board would work more closely with foreign embassies,
international organizations and other stakeholders to encourage more people
from abroad to visit Bangladesh.
"We
want to engage with the international community, embassies and other
stakeholders to encourage their citizens to visit Bangladesh," he said.
