The number of hotels, restaurants and tea stalls across the country has nearly doubled to 436,274 in ten years till 2021, with the sector employing around 2.1 million male and female workers, says a recent study.
Ten years ago, the country had around 275,000 hotels and restaurants.
Of the total, some 344,687 are roadside tea stalls, of which 159,393 are in cities and the remaining in village areas.
Besides, there are 67,991 fast food shops, 19,637 restaurants and mobile food shops, and 126 catering services across the country.
The data emerged from the “Hotel-Restaurant Survey 2021” of the Bangladesh Bureau of Statistics (BBS).
Though the sector is booming, it has remained mostly unregulated, especially outside Dhaka, with only 65,000 entities registered under the Bangladesh Hotel Restaurant Owners Association.
According to the survey, the number of hotels and restaurants in 1992-92 was 117,981. It rose to 215,103 in 2002-03; 275,324 in 2009-10; and 436,274 in 2021.
Dhaka TribuneBusiness people and consumer rights groups say this sector has changed over the last few years, but the quality has not improved in parallel.
The development is attributed to monitoring and enforcement drives by the authorities to check the legality of businesses and service quality.
The data show that male workers in this sector rose to 1,970,970 in 2021 from around 850,000 ten years ago. Female workers have also doubled to 100,737.
Of the hotels and restaurants, 852 are under government ownership. The number was 133 in 1992-92; 713 in 2002-03; and 639 in 2009-10. The remaining are under private ownership.
According to BBS data, the number of short-stay hotels is 2,889 in urban areas and 301 outside cities.
Dhaka TribuneThe owner of a recently opened restaurant in Dhanmondi's Sat Masjid Road said one has to invest in this sector with many risks. There are so many restaurants around, and the competition is high. Along with this, the prices of everyday products are increasing.
This owner has two more restaurants, he said, seeking anonymity. “Maybe we can do business one or two days a week. The rest of the week is almost dull. Earning enough money to pay employee salaries and rent is often difficult.”
Fajar Ali has been selling tea on the roadside for eight years. He said at least 20 tea shops are operating beside the road in less than a one-kilometer stretch. Earlier, there were 2-3 tea stalls.
Tea traders say the shops have increased due to the rising demand. Nowadays, there are at least five tea shops around a school or college, while the number is higher in university and bus terminal areas.
Dhaka TribuneSecretary General of Bangladesh Restaurant Owners Association Imran Hasan said: “There have been many changes in this sector recently. Many good companies have entered the business, and there is a trained workforce here.
“The biggest problem of this sector now is the price hike of daily necessities. Buyers have decreased, and sales too. Many restaurants are closing their business.”