Image of visit bangladesh

VISIT BANGLADESH

The government has chosen the year 2011 to observe tourism year as one of the mega events of the earth - cricket world cup - will be hosted in the country this year, he said.

"Initially, we have set a target of receiving one million foreign tourists during the tourism year 2011 and expecting more than two million afterwards," he said.

The Minister said Parjatan Corporation, the national tourism facilitating body, has already chalked out lots of events for round the year blending with traditional, cultural, tribal and religious festivals, he said.

The year-long programme which will initially cost Taka 150 crore also includes staging of road shows and Bangladesh week in different countries as well as inviting foreign renowned international travel writers and journalists to visit Bangladesh.

The promotional campaign for the tourist year would be conducted as public private partnership. "We are looking for private organizations for holding international standard events as well as conducting overseas promotional campaign," he added.

He said the tourism ministry has already selected more than 750 places as tourist spots and taken initiatives to develop infrastructure facilities there with the help of local government division.

The ministry is actively considering for building some special tourist zones only for the foreigners with foreign investment, the minister added.

The country has lots of tourist tempting treasures in terms of both natural beauty, culture, heritage and archeological aspects, he said, adding but "we have never conducted such huge international promotional campaign to attract travelers."

"We have to spread the message among the foreigners that Bangladesh is enriched with many resources attractive to travelers," Quader said.

Detailing the government's plan to boost up tourism sector, the Minister said the government has already formulated a national tourism policy and enacted two laws styled 'Bangladesh Reserved Areas for Tourism and Special Tourism Zones Act-2010' and 'Bangladesh Parjatan Board Act-2010'.

The policy and the two laws will help us to establish a world standard planned and eco-friendly tourism in the country which could be served as one of the major foreign exchange earning sources of the country, he said.

Sources with the ministry said revenue earning from the sector was Taka 449.38 crore in 2005, Taka 553.6 crore in 2006, Taka 526.51 crore in 2007, Taka 612.45 crore in 2008 and Taka 573.79 crore in 2009.