The government has set a target of $200 million income from tourism sector by 2018 through improving the facilities at different places of tourist interest.
Finance Minister AMA Muhith disclosed this while placing the proposed budget of 2015-16 fiscal year at the parliament on Thursday.
The minister said the year 2016 has been declared as Tourism Year to revitalise the tourism sector.
“Initiatives will be taken to gradually increase the number of international tourists to around 10 lakh and income from this sector to $200 million by 2018," said Muhith.
Noting that a site has been chosen to establish an eco-park in Sylhet, which will soon be opened, the minister said the Sundarban Tourism Policy has been approved.
"We have taken a number of steps to expand ecotourism industry, we have already opened Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Safari Park with international standard facilities at Gazipur and Sheikh Russel Aviary and Eco Park in Chittagong," he said.
An integrated plan has also been formulated for development of tourism in Cox’s Bazar, Teknaf, Saint Martin and Moheshkhali, the minister informed the house.
About beautification of Dhaka City, the minister said: "We have taken up projects to beautify Gulshan-Banani-Baridhara and Uttara lakes and develop them as amusement areas after implementing the visually pleasant Hatirjheel project."
