Bangladesh can be a prime tourist destination if required tourist attractions such as a vibrant nightlife are created, said Dr M Afjal Hossain, a professor of Dhaka University’s (DU) tourism and hospitality management department.
"We have extraordinary natural beauty, but to attract foreign tourists, we need to give them what they want," he said, according to UNB.
Travel and tourism contributed Tk427.5 billion - 2.2% of the total GDP in 2017. According to the World Travel and Tourism Council (WTTC) data, this will rise by 6.1%in 2018.
The tourism industry also directly supported 1,178,500 jobs in 2017, which is 1.8% of the total employment. This is expected to rise by 3% in 2018.
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Dr Afjal also said: “As Bangladesh is witnessing a rapid development in infrastructure, the tourism sector will be able to make a major contribution to the national economy within the next five years, with the number of foreign and domestic tourists greatly increasing.
"Bangladeshis are hospitable and friendly. We need to communicate the good things about Bangladesh to foreigners," he added.
Dr Afjal stressed on running massive digital promotional campaigns that highlight Bangladesh positively to foreigners.
He also emphasized the importance of good infrastructure, saying tourists will be more willing to come if they can travel easily.
In response to a question, the expert also said only locations offering natural beauty are not sufficient, as it is important for tourists to be able to spend at least 10 out of the 24 hours in a day in any one place. Theatre halls, open stages, musical events, and theme parks should also be built, Dr Afjal said.
The DU professor also stated the need for bars and nightlife – even if they are in exclusive zones, as these are essential for tourists.
Dr Afjal expressed his woes about the budget allocation for the tourism sector, calling it inadequate.
He also said some 840,000 foreigners visit Bangladesh annually, but pure tourists are very limited. In contrast, 13,700,000 domestic tourists visit the same spots annually.
On Thursday,Civil Aviation and Tourism Minister AKM Shajahan Kamal urged students and the young generation to positively represent the tourism sector of Bangladesh on social media.
He also said in many countries, tourism is a major part of the economy. "If we want to develop our tourism industry, we must promote our country on digital platforms," he said.
Despite a massive potential, Bangladesh is yet to ensure the aspects required to entice foreign tourists.
Civil Aviation and Tourism Ministry Secretary M Mohibul Haque said: “The government intends to work throughout the year to develop the tourism industry.”He also emphasized the need for coordinated efforts to improve the image of Bangladesh’s tourist attractions abroad.
One of the world's largest economic sectors, the tourism industry creates jobs, drives exports, and generates revenue across the world.
In WTTC's annual analysis of the impact of travel and tourism on the global economy, the sector is said to account for 10.4% of global GDP, along with the employment of 313 million people, or 9.9% of total employment in 2017.