Bangladesh is trying to attract foreign entrepreneurs to invest in a planned exclusive tourist zone (ETZ) in beach town Cox’s Bazar to boost the country’s tourism industry.
It is planned to be set up at Sabrang Union of Teknaf upazila in the district under the Public Private Partnership (PPP) initiative.
“We’re looking for foreign investors,” Civil Aviation and Tourism Minister Rashed Khan Menon told UNB.
He said the government has already identified about 1,165 acres of land for implementing the project with modern facilities for the tourists both from home and abroad.
An official at the Civil Aviation and Tourism Ministry said an inter-ministerial meeting, held on May 14, decided to conduct a feasibility study on about 914 acres of land for the project.
“An approval for the feasibility study has already been given.”
Meanwhile, permission has been given to use another 136 acres of land in the Cox’s Bazar beach.
The government has a plan to ensure all types of entertainment facilities for the tourists that include modern hotel, restaurants, nightclub, water sports, observation tower and golf course.
The government is encouraging the private sector to come up with investment for developing exclusive tourism zones jointly with the government.
Another official at the tourism ministry said the government has already identified some exclusive tourism zones in the country where private investment is badly needed for their development.
Recognising the sector’s potential, the government for the first time has come up with a “coordinated document” to help flourish the sector in a planned way.
The book titled “Development and Floursihment of Tourism Industry” described in details about tourist spots, future plan on their development and outlined plans for public private partnership (PPP) to develop tourism zones.
The government is committed to the development and expansion of the country’s tourism industry and expansion of the tourism industry will help turn Bangladesh into a middle-income country by 2021.
