Bangladesh has long been a nation that has had the potential to have a thriving tourism sector. From its unique and scenic natural beauty such as its beaches, tea gardens, and forests, to its rich archaeological history dating back centuries, to its culture and people, there is plenty that Bangladesh has to offer when it comes to attracting international travellers.
To that end, it is truly disappointing to see that year after year, regimes have all but ignored the potential of this sector, with the 2024 Travel and Tourism Development Index by the World Economic Forum ranking Bangladesh 109 out of 119 economies, placing it last among 19 Asia-Pacific countries.
While the events of July and August have unquestionably contributed to potential travellers feeling a sense of unease - an expected outcome after any uprising - along with natural disasters such as floods and cyclones, there are plenty of factors within our control that have over the years been neglected, leading to the dismal state of a sector that should have been contributing more to our overall economy.
At the core has been the lack of any concrete plans or actions to develop the sector, which once again goes back to governments failing to realize the potential of this sector.
While there are efforts underway to finalize a master plan to develop the sector, and those within the tourism industry are hopeful that the interim government will restore stability in the nation and thus enable the sector’s recovery, we need to translate these thoughts into actions, not just in the short-term, but also for the long-term.
There certainly are numerous challenges that must be addressed for Bangladesh currently. However, with the goal of continuous development, the current and every successive regime must no longer overlook the immense potential tourism holds for helping our economy.
