The government plans to promote “Island Tourism” to boost the country’s tourism sector ahead of the tourism year 2016.
Declaring 2016 as ‘Toursim Year’, the government has undertaken a massive plan to bring 10 lakh foreign tourists in the next year to revitalise the tourism sector.
Civil Aviation and Tourism Ministry has already allocated Tk200 crore for the development of the country’s tourism destinations.
Civil Aviation and Tourism Ministry decided to undertake a project to make the country’s islands more attractive at a recent meeting held at the secretariat with tourism secretary Khurshed Alam Chowdhury in the chair.
An official of the ministry, who attended the meeting, told the Dhaka Tribune that Bangladesh had huge potential in island tourism.
“Considering it, the ministry now wants to promote those destinations,” he said.
He also opined that St. Martin’s Island was very popular destination for the domestic tourists but if the government could ensure better infrastructure facilities, it would help boost the island tourism in the country.
During the same meeting, tourism ministry also asked all the Deputy Commissioners (DCs) to submit a tourism name of each districts.
As per the order, DC of Bhola proposed a name of his district as “Queen Island of Bangladesh”.
An integrated plan has also been prepared for the development of tourism in Cox’s Bazar, Teknaf, St. Martin’s and Moheskhali.
The government has also set a target of earning US$200m from tourism sector by 2018 through improving the facilities at different touristic destination.
However, the industry insiders said, “Though there is a potential of island tourism, it will be a really tough job to promote the islands within a short period.”
Kazi Wahidul Alam, a tourism expert and the Editor of fortnightly tourism newspaper named The Bangladesh Monitor, said, “As of now, we’ve failed to properly promote our mainland whereas the government is now planning to boost ‘Island Tourism.”
“Before initiating such a project, we have to ensure safety, security and infrastructure facilities, otherwise, all the plan will be spoiled,” he warned.
Masud Hasan, director of Tour operator association of Bangladesh (TOAB), said, “We can easily promote lifestyle of different islands to attract foreign tourists. But the most important thing is to develop an island with modern infrastructure.”