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MAHBUB-TOURISM-PLAN
Tourism master plan within two years: Mahbub
DHAKA, Nov 6, 2019 (BSS) – State Minister for Civil Aviation and Tourism M
Mahbub Ali today said the government has taken initiative to formulate a
‘Tourism Master Plan’ in next two years for proper branding of Bangladesh in
front of both local and foreign tourists.
“Our tourism products are yet to be branded for various reasons. Now time
has come to brand those properly for further flourishing our untapped tourism
industry,” he said.
The state minister said this while addressing at a function as the chief
guest marking the 12th anniversary of Tourism and Hospitality Management
Department of Dhaka University (DU) at its campus here.
The tourism master plan project has been awaiting to get final node from
the cabinet while the government allocated more than Taka 28 crore to involve
an international consultancy firm to formulate the plan for the first time in
the country’s tourism history.
Ali hoped that construction of the Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport
(HSIA) third terminal, Metrorail and underground train will also provide
international standard amenities to the foreign tourists along with the local
city dwellers.
“The implementation of these mega projects will encourage tourists to
visit Bangladesh,” he hoped.
The state minister said the government will provide assistance to turn a
village adjacent to Bisnakandi, a new sensation for tourists, in Sylhet into
a centre of Community Based Tourism (CBT) where foreign tourists can stay
with the villagers to enjoy the virgin rural beauty of Bangladesh.
After the Great War of Liberation, Ali said Bangladesh had become well
known to entire world as Bangabandhu’s Bangladesh, but the country failed to
brand itself accordingly later on.
Presided over by Tourism and Hospitality Management Department Chairman
Professor Dr Badaruzzaman Bhuiyan, the function was also attended, among
others, by DU Business studies faculty Dean Prof Dr Shibli Rubayat-ul Islam,
Bangladesh Tourism Board (BTB) CEO Dr Bhuban Chandra Biswas and Tour Operator
Association of Bangladesh (TOAB) Director Taufique Rahman.
BSS/ASG/MMH/TA/SSS/1844 hrs