Terming the country’s tourism sector thriving, Civil Aviation and Tourism Minister Rashed Khan Menon has urged local as well as foreign financiers to boost the national economy by way of investing in the sector.
Menon made the call while addressing as chief guest at the inaugural session of the three-day tourism fair styled ‘4th Asian Tourism Fair 2015’ at Bashundhara International Convention City.
Alongside spurring economy by attract trippers, the sector also has the opportunity to generate huge employments, he observed.
Parjatan Bichitra, a monthly magazine, in collaboration with Bangladesh Parjatan Corporation, Bangladesh Tourism Board and Civil Aviation and Tourism Ministry is hosting the fair to promote tourism.
The fair remains open for visitors from 10:00am to 9:00pm. Entry fee per person is Tk 20.
Stalls of various tour operators, travel agents, airlines, hotels and other service providers from both private and public sectors from eight Asian countries are participating in it.
BPC Chairman Dr Aparup Chowdhury, Bhutanese Ambassador in Dhaka Pema Choden, Nepalese Ambassador HK Shrestha, Filipino Ambassador Vicente Vivencio T Bandillo, ILO Senior Adviser Francis De Silva and Parjatan Bichitra Editor Mohiuddin Helal, among others, spoke at the fete.
Addressing the event, the BPC chief said they are trying to come out of the traditional ways of promoting tourism by focusing on community-based tourism and eco-tourism maintaining biodiversity.
The government is promoting tourism by putting due emphasis on development of the sector, said Aparup, inviting foreigners to visit Bangladesh frequently.
The Parjatan Bichitra editor said Asian Tourism Fair Dhaka is a mega event for regional tourism development by showcasing travel and tour operators.
Some 30 countries, 300 exhibitors and 400 booths will be there in the next year’s event, Mohiuddin mentioned.
This year’s event also holds diversified activities like youth tourism skill competition, seminar on impact of sustainable tourism, community cultural program, children’s art competition on the theme “Beautiful Bangladesh” to familiarise the local tourism sector abroad.