_A Monitor Report
Dhaka : Tourism sector will be able contribute to the national economy in the future with the creation of a favourable atmosphere for the sector to grow. This optimism was expressed by GM Quader, Minister for Civil Aviation and Tourism while inaugurating the three-day Eastern Bank Limited Bang-ladesh Travel and Tourism Fair-2010 (EBL BTTF-2010) at Bangabandhu International Conference Centre in the city on September 30.
The present government has given importance to the sector, creating a conducive environment for the development of tourism with the enactment of two tourism laws, announ-cement of a tourism policy and formation of Bangladesh Tourism Board (BTB).
The inaugural ceremony was also addressed by Hedayetu-llah Al Mamun, Secretary, Ministry of Culture, Shafique Alam Mehdi, Secretary, Minis-try of Civil Aviation and Touri-sm, Mamoon Mahmood Shah, Deputy Managing Director, Eastern Bank Ltd, Taufiq Uddin Ahmed, President TOAB, M. Hakim Ali, Chairman, Fair Management Committee and Rezaul Ekram Razu, Director, EBL BTTF-2010
The Minister said, BTB, a long felt demand of the stakeholders of the tourism sector, will be able to function soon as money has been allocated and office chosen, the Minister added.
Tourism sites of archaeological, historical, cultural and environmental importance have been designated for preservation and conservation. None would be allowed to alter them. A guideline has been drawn as to what can be done.
The Ministry of Civil Aviation and Tourism along with other ministries, particularly the ministries of Forests and Environment and Culture are implementing projects relating to infrastructure.
Highlighting the ancient heritage, the Minister said, remnants of urban civilisation in Bangladesh dating back about 3000 years was recently unearthed at Wari-Bateshwar, some 30 miles from the city. The country also has a large number of archaeological and religious sites, mass festivals spread throughout the year like Bangla new year's day on Pahela Baishakh, February 21 International Mother Language Day, Independence Day and other cultural attractions. There are also festivals of 24 indigenous groups of people. We shared the hair of Lord Buddha with Sri Lanka recently, he added.
Welcoming the foreign delegates, the minister informed them that Bangladesh has a lot of attractions and festivals to present before them and the people of Bangladesh are very warm and hospitable, giving the best food and reserving the best room to the guests.
The minster pointed out that the country will be co-hosting the ICC Cricket Cup and hoped the country would be able to welcome a lot of tourists next year, particularly in the first three months of 2011.
A total of 110 companies and organisations from 10 countries including host Bangladesh are taking part in the Fair setting up 162 stalls. Indonesia, Egypt, Vietnam and Indian state of Gujrat are taking part in BTTF for the first time.
Participants include national tourism authorities, airlines, tour operators, hotels, resorts, hospitals and others. Raffles Hospital was the only organisation in the fair promoting medical travel.
Abdu Fayed, President, RioEgypt Travel of Egypt said he had been following the Bangladesh market for about two years and decided to take part in BTTF this year.
Basically it was a factfinding tour, he said adding, sixty per cent of the people here go to South Asia, 20 per cent to Europe, 10 per cent to US, 10 per cent to Africa while only 5 per cent to Egypt. Till now most of the Egyptian visitors were businessmen. He hoped to increase the number of tourists travelling between the two countries in the future. He said his company will be sending invitation letters to Bangladeshis wishing to visit Egypt to facilitate their journey.
Ambassador Zet Mirzal Zainuddin said Indonesia is also participating in BTTF for the first time and his embassy in Dhaka was assisting the two-member delegation from his country. Indonesia has become the favourite destination of foreign investors after China and India, and is a multi-ethnic, multi-cultural, multi-cuisine country with the best diving sites in the world. Explaining the diversity of Indonesia, he said Bali's culture has been influenced by Hinduism, that of Java by both Islam and Hinduism while West Sumatra was matrilineal.
He said visa was easy and available in three days at the most. "If we can give it in a day, we try to do so," he added.
Jonathan Tran Vinh Loc of Lac Hong Voyager Co said his company will try to promote Vietnam, Cambodia and Laos, where it is strong. People do not know much about these countries. Visas are easily available at Vietnam embassy in the city and passengers can travel by Malaysia Airlines, Air Asia or Thai Airways to travel to Vietnam.
Salman Ahmad, Deputy Director, International Marketing Division, Tourism Malaysia said a large number of tourists from here go to Malaysia and a sizable number of Malaysia My Second Home are Bangladeshis. His organisation will try to promote two way travel of tourists between the two countries as well as try to raise membership of MM2H. He informed that Legoland, a theme park constructed with Legos will be inaugurated in Johor Bahru next year and hoped Bangladeshis will also find the theme park attractive.
LS Changsan, Secretary, government of Assam said Assam was very safe for tourists and investors. Under the Assam Tourism Policy, investors in the sector were receiving tax rebates and various incentives. The Assam government is also extending unemployed youths the seed money to purchase and drive vehicles.
On the side line of the Fair, a seminar on "Development of Tourism through Regional Co-operation" will be held on October 1, where the key note paper will be presented by Faruque Hasan and Tripura Minister for Higher Education, ICAT and S.C Welfare Deptt.. Aril Sarker will be present as the chief guest.
Monday, October 4, 2010
Congenial atmosphere created for growth of tourism sector
_A Monitor Report
Dhaka : Tourism sector will be able contribute to the national economy in the future with the creation of a favourable atmosphere for the sector to grow. This optimism was expressed by GM Quader, Minister for Civil Aviation and Tourism while inaugurating the three-day Eastern Bank Limited Bang-ladesh Travel and Tourism Fair-2010 (EBL BTTF-2010) at Bangabandhu International Conference Centre in the city on September 30.
The present government has given importance to the sector, creating a conducive environment for the development of tourism with the enactment of two tourism laws, announ-cement of a tourism policy and formation of Bangladesh Tourism Board (BTB).
The inaugural ceremony was also addressed by Hedayetu-llah Al Mamun, Secretary, Ministry of Culture, Shafique Alam Mehdi, Secretary, Minis-try of Civil Aviation and Touri-sm, Mamoon Mahmood Shah, Deputy Managing Director, Eastern Bank Ltd, Taufiq Uddin Ahmed, President TOAB, M. Hakim Ali, Chairman, Fair Management Committee and Rezaul Ekram Razu, Director, EBL BTTF-2010
The Minister said, BTB, a long felt demand of the stakeholders of the tourism sector, will be able to function soon as money has been allocated and office chosen, the Minister added.
Tourism sites of archaeological, historical, cultural and environmental importance have been designated for preservation and conservation. None would be allowed to alter them. A guideline has been drawn as to what can be done.
The Ministry of Civil Aviation and Tourism along with other ministries, particularly the ministries of Forests and Environment and Culture are implementing projects relating to infrastructure.
Highlighting the ancient heritage, the Minister said, remnants of urban civilisation in Bangladesh dating back about 3000 years was recently unearthed at Wari-Bateshwar, some 30 miles from the city. The country also has a large number of archaeological and religious sites, mass festivals spread throughout the year like Bangla new year's day on Pahela Baishakh, February 21 International Mother Language Day, Independence Day and other cultural attractions. There are also festivals of 24 indigenous groups of people. We shared the hair of Lord Buddha with Sri Lanka recently, he added.
Welcoming the foreign delegates, the minister informed them that Bangladesh has a lot of attractions and festivals to present before them and the people of Bangladesh are very warm and hospitable, giving the best food and reserving the best room to the guests.
The minster pointed out that the country will be co-hosting the ICC Cricket Cup and hoped the country would be able to welcome a lot of tourists next year, particularly in the first three months of 2011.
A total of 110 companies and organisations from 10 countries including host Bangladesh are taking part in the Fair setting up 162 stalls. Indonesia, Egypt, Vietnam and Indian state of Gujrat are taking part in BTTF for the first time.
Participants include national tourism authorities, airlines, tour operators, hotels, resorts, hospitals and others. Raffles Hospital was the only organisation in the fair promoting medical travel.
Abdu Fayed, President, RioEgypt Travel of Egypt said he had been following the Bangladesh market for about two years and decided to take part in BTTF this year.
Basically it was a factfinding tour, he said adding, sixty per cent of the people here go to South Asia, 20 per cent to Europe, 10 per cent to US, 10 per cent to Africa while only 5 per cent to Egypt. Till now most of the Egyptian visitors were businessmen. He hoped to increase the number of tourists travelling between the two countries in the future. He said his company will be sending invitation letters to Bangladeshis wishing to visit Egypt to facilitate their journey.
Ambassador Zet Mirzal Zainuddin said Indonesia is also participating in BTTF for the first time and his embassy in Dhaka was assisting the two-member delegation from his country. Indonesia has become the favourite destination of foreign investors after China and India, and is a multi-ethnic, multi-cultural, multi-cuisine country with the best diving sites in the world. Explaining the diversity of Indonesia, he said Bali's culture has been influenced by Hinduism, that of Java by both Islam and Hinduism while West Sumatra was matrilineal.
He said visa was easy and available in three days at the most. "If we can give it in a day, we try to do so," he added.
Jonathan Tran Vinh Loc of Lac Hong Voyager Co said his company will try to promote Vietnam, Cambodia and Laos, where it is strong. People do not know much about these countries. Visas are easily available at Vietnam embassy in the city and passengers can travel by Malaysia Airlines, Air Asia or Thai Airways to travel to Vietnam.
Salman Ahmad, Deputy Director, International Marketing Division, Tourism Malaysia said a large number of tourists from here go to Malaysia and a sizable number of Malaysia My Second Home are Bangladeshis. His organisation will try to promote two way travel of tourists between the two countries as well as try to raise membership of MM2H. He informed that Legoland, a theme park constructed with Legos will be inaugurated in Johor Bahru next year and hoped Bangladeshis will also find the theme park attractive.
LS Changsan, Secretary, government of Assam said Assam was very safe for tourists and investors. Under the Assam Tourism Policy, investors in the sector were receiving tax rebates and various incentives. The Assam government is also extending unemployed youths the seed money to purchase and drive vehicles.
On the side line of the Fair, a seminar on "Development of Tourism through Regional Co-operation" will be held on October 1, where the key note paper will be presented by Faruque Hasan and Tripura Minister for Higher Education, ICAT and S.C Welfare Deptt.. Aril Sarker will be present as the chief guest.
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