The government aims to raise the tourism sector’s contribution to Bangladesh’s gross domestic product to 6-7 per cent from around 3 per cent, Civil Aviation and Tourism Minister Afroza Khanam said on Saturday.
She stressed the need for coordinated development of four interconnected sectors — travel, tourism, aviation and hospitality — to achieve the target.
Afroza made the remarks as chief guest at the inauguration of the Travel and Tourism Development Centre at Hotel InterContinental Dhaka.
“The tourism sector currently contributes around 3 per cent to the country’s GDP. We want to more than double that contribution to 6-7 per cent,” she said.
She said achieving the target would require coordinated efforts from both the government and private-sector stakeholders.
The government had publicly set the same 6-7 per cent tourism contribution target earlier this month as part of efforts to make the sector a stronger driver of the national economy.
Afroza said stakeholders in travel, tourism, aviation and hospitality would have to work together to raise Bangladesh’s tourism industry to international standards.
She expressed hope that the newly launched platform would help bring the different stakeholders together and facilitate greater cooperation.
The minister also called for a stronger role from the private sector in ensuring sustainable growth of tourism, saying the government was prepared to provide policy support and other assistance.
She said the government was taking initiatives to better utilise Bangladesh’s tourism potential and urged all stakeholders to work together.
“With collective efforts and cooperation among stakeholders, Bangladesh can be established as an international tourism destination,” she said.
Tourism industry leaders, stakeholders and guests attended the programme.
Cox’s Bazar Life Desk
