Helping tourism grow

With the onset of a new wind in the tourism industry of Bangladesh, the country is witnessing developments in various kinds of tourism enterprises owned by the private sector. Bangladesh Parjatan Corporation (BPC) – the national tourism administration – also, with its various efforts, is extending cooperation to the private sector led tourism growth for the last couple of years. BPC offers 25% discount to tour operators of TOAB members. On the other hand, it cooperates with other private tourism enterprises in terms of intellectuality, administration and capacity building support until sustainable footing is secured. With the active support of BPC, an edu-entertainment park has been established in Cumilla named Dino-park, which has already been attracting inquisitive tourists and students of schools, colleges, and universities across the county. Located 45 feet above ground on the Lalmai plain land, the Dino-park is the first-ever edu-entertainment park in the country. Established on 12 acre land at Jammura, Cumilla – experts from China, for four months, have set-up dinosaurs and pre-historic creatures that provide great scope for visitors to learn, and offers them a great source of entertainment.

If any private company/sector approaches BPC for any kind of intellectual or capacity-building support, this organization (with its pool of human resources) is ready to extend its full cooperation

As many as five animated dinosaurs were brought in from China to create a realistic environment. Along with dinosaurs, there are other entertainment facilities like rides, rainbow staircases, cafe, and a kids zone. While passing through the gate, tourists can find a flavour of a pre-historic era of dinosaur, as the access gate has been established in that fashion. The guests will also be able to have a glance of the beautiful natural settings of the Cumilla-Lalmai hill, sitting on a ride which is named “Eye of Lamai,” situated on top of the park. The other nearby attractions are archaeological heritage sites Shalban Vihara, Rupban Mura, Bangladesh Academy Rural Development (BARD), Cumilla University, the botanical garden, and so much more. To gain practical knowledge about dinosaurs, students and researchers have already started to throng the park. Bangladesh Parjatan Corporation also extends other kinds of support to this park in the forms of different contests and game activities. In the same manner, BPC also extends capacity and human resource development support to other resorts of Bangladesh in both public-private partnership scope, among which are Arunima Resort Golf Club, Padma Resort, and more. This organization also promotes school children’s tours to the various archaeological and historical sites in Bangladesh including Shaheed Minar to Bangabandhu Museum-National Mausoleum at Savar to Bangbandhu Mausoleum at Tungipara. This tour has been labelled as a package called 1952 to 1971 (ie Language Movement to the Liberation War). BPC also promotes tourism in Chittagong, of which the biggest attraction is Foy’s Lake. There are many examples of similar national organizations to promote and support private sector-led tourism growth in the country. If any private company/sector approaches BPC for any kind of intellectual or capacity-building support, this organization (with its pool of human resources) is ready to extend its full cooperation.

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Md Ziaul Haque Howlader is Manager (PR & SP), BPC.