Tourism experts here today stressed to develop a skilled, professional and service-oriented workforce to unlock Bangladesh’s tourism potential and expand opportunities for economic growth and employment.
Bangladesh Tourism Board (BTB), with support from the International Labour Organization (ILO), organised the daylong programme at Hotel InterContinental Dhaka, said a press release.
Civil Aviation and Tourism Secretary Dr Nurun Nahar Chowdhury attended as the chief guest, while ILO National Programme Officer Alexius Chicham was the special guest. BTB Chief Executive Officer Barrister Mutasim Billah Faruqui chaired the event.
Speaking on the occasion, the secretary said developing skilled human resources alongside infrastructure is essential to translate the country’s vast tourism potential into economic growth and employment.
She called for coordinated efforts by the government, educational institutions and the private sector to bridge the gap between university education and the practical requirements of industry.
Career opportunities for tourism and hospitality graduates extend beyond hotel and resort management to aviation, tour operations, travel agencies, event management, digital tourism, marketing and entrepreneurship, she said.
She urged students to strengthen their communication skills, foreign language proficiency, digital capabilities, leadership qualities and professional ethics to succeed in a competitive job market.
The secretary also emphasised increasing women’s participation in tourism, ensuring safe and dignified working environments and nurturing young entrepreneurs.
She called for proper follow-up on students’ CV submissions and initiatives to connect them with prospective employers.
BTB CEO Faruqui said effective partnerships among educational institutions, industry and the government are crucial for the tourism sector’s long-term development.
Many students pursuing higher education in tourism lack adequate awareness of the industry’s diverse employment opportunities, while a gap persists between employers’ expectations and graduates’ skills, he said.
The programme would serve as a practical platform to narrow that gap and facilitate direct engagement between students and employers, he added.
He said its success would depend on the effectiveness of the connections established and the employment, internship and entrepreneurship opportunities generated.
Titled “Unlocking Careers and Employment Opportunities for Tourism and Hospitality Management (THM) Students in Tourism Industry”, the programme was organised under the ILO’s Promoting Gender Responsive Enterprise Development and TVET Systems (ProGRESS) project.
Arrangements were made for students, recent graduates and faculty representatives from tourism and hospitality management departments of 15 public and private universities to participate.
A key feature of the programme was the opportunity for students to interact directly with employers from different sectors and submit CVs according to their preferred fields. Plans also included digital CV submissions for students unable to attend in person.
Seven thematic discussions covered employment opportunities, required skills, professional challenges and career development across the tourism and hospitality industry.
Topics included hotel sales and marketing, food and beverage services, tour guiding and operations, ticketing and reservations, opportunities and challenges for women entrepreneurs, aviation employment, young entrepreneur development, front desk operations and housekeeping.
Experienced professionals and representatives from InterContinental Dhaka, The Bengal Tours Limited, Sabre Travel Network Bangladesh Limited, Autarky Tours Limited, US-Bangla Airlines, the E-Tourism Association of Bangladesh and Sheraton Dhaka were scheduled to participate in the sessions.
Speakers highlighted the importance of practical training, internships, technological skills, language proficiency, professional conduct and innovative thinking alongside academic education.
They also emphasised supporting women and young people to become entrepreneurs and creating inclusive and sustainable employment opportunities in tourism.
BTB said such initiatives could help bridge the gap between education and the workplace, develop skilled human resources and expand decent employment opportunities for young people.
Cox’s Bazar Life Desk/BSS
