The government has embarked on a mega plan to develop present and potential tourist attractions in Bangladesh.
It is set to announce 2016 as the Tourism Year, making it a part of the plan that the Tourism Board approved on Dec 18 last year.
The matter was discussed in the National Tourism Council meeting chaired by Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Wednesday.
“The decision to announce 2016 as the Tourism Year was taken to speed up work to develop and expand Bangladesh’s tourism sector,” said the prime minister’s press secretary AKM Shamim Choudhury.
“The cost has been estimated at Tk 2 billion in three fiscals: 2015-18.”
The prime minister had stressed the need to spruce up tourist destinations to attract foreign visitors, he said.
“She said the rivers should be made to look more attractive, not just the sea beaches. She has emphasised the need to start river cruises.”
Heritage and archaeological sites, hills, tea gardens, too, should be made to look inviting for tourism, the prime minister said.
“Why should foreigners come here on tour, if we don’t go on tours ourselves? Measures need to be undertaken so that our own people feel attracted towards tourism,” he quoted the prime minister having said.
He said the prime minister had stressed the planned development of beaches at Cox’s Bazar and Patukhali’s Kuakata, keeping in mind the tourism industry.
She also revealed plans for an ‘Exclusive Tourist Zone’ at Cox’s Bazar and a marine drive form Chittagong’s Mirsarai to Teknaf in Cox’s Bazar.
“The prime minister said that the Sundarbans should be brought under eco tourism,” said the press secretary to the PM.
He added that the meeting also discussed the feasibility of international river cruises from Bangladesh.
“Currently, there’s a river cruise which starts from India’s Chennai, which passes through Bangladesh’s maritime boundaries and ends in Singapore via Myanmar, Thailand and Malaysia. If Bangladesh wants to be a part of that, then a maritime protocol needs to be signed with some countries including India.”
On-arrival visas, long-term multiple visas and e-visa to attract more tourists to Bangladesh was also discussed.