Public-private coordination crucial to tourism development: Mir Helal

State Minister for Land and Chittagong Hill Tracts Affairs Mir Mohammad Helal Uddin has stressed the need for stronger coordination and partnerships between the public and private sectors to accelerate the development of Bangladesh’s tourism industry.

He made the remarks on Monday at a views-exchange meeting on the prospects of Bangladesh’s tourism industry and measures for its development, organised by the Bangladesh Parjatan Corporation (BPC) at Parjatan Bhaban in Agargaon, Dhaka, marking World Tourism Day.

The state minister said the government would provide necessary policy support and administrative facilities for the growth of the tourism industry, while the private sector should take the lead in industry leadership, marketing and branding.

“Tourism cannot be developed in isolation,” he said, stressing the need for coordinated planning, investment and cooperation between government agencies and private-sector stakeholders.

Mir Helal also called for improving basic tourism infrastructure, including roads, transport networks, airports, river ports and accommodation facilities. He stressed the need to develop international-standard facilities at potential destinations, train skilled tour guides and promote traditional and regional cuisine.

He also urged coordinated efforts among relevant ministries and agencies, including the ministries of Culture, Home Affairs, Land, Local Government, Housing and Public Works, Foreign Affairs, Environment and Shipping, to expand the tourism sector.

Prime Minister’s Principal Secretary A B M Abdus Sattar said tourism could play a significant role in transforming Bangladesh’s economy. He called for preserving the country’s tourism attractions while introducing modern facilities for visitors.

Highlighting the potential of river tourism, he proposed introducing a circular waterway around Dhaka to allow tourists to experience the country’s rivers, riverside lifestyles, culture and heritage sites.

He also emphasised stronger public-private partnerships, saying the government would pursue policy support for private investment, attract foreign investment and increase budgetary allocations for tourism-related programmes.

Civil Aviation and Tourism Secretary Fahmida Akhter said the government had set a target of significantly increasing the tourism sector’s contribution to the national economy. At a recent conference of deputy commissioners, a target was outlined to raise tourism’s contribution to 6–7% of the economy, she said.

She said the government’s election manifesto had placed emphasis on simplifying visa procedures, introducing an AI-based travel application, developing skilled tourist police, and promoting district-based community tourism, ecotourism and water tourism.

The Ministry of Civil Aviation and Tourism has already incorporated these commitments into short-, medium- and long-term action plans and initiated steps for their implementation, she added.

Planning Commission Member (Secretary) Dr Nurunnahar Chowdhury called on the BPC to pursue larger development plans alongside its ongoing projects.

She proposed developing international-standard tourism facilities in Cox’s Bazar, Sylhet, Kuakata, Khulna, Bagerhat and other tourism-rich areas. She also suggested that suitable project proposals could be submitted under the Ministry of Finance’s Creative Economy programme.

BPC Chairman Md Shamimuzzaman said the corporation had recently undertaken an extensive initiative to identify the country’s tourism potential.

So far, 1,498 tourism spots have been identified across Bangladesh, of which 60 development projects, estimated to cost around Tk 19,000 crore, have been prioritised and submitted to the Ministry of Civil Aviation and Tourism, he said.

According to the BPC chairman, implementation of the proposed projects could increase tourism’s contribution to the national economy to 8–10% and potentially double employment in the sector from the current estimated 2.4 million.

He said the initiatives could also help establish a foundation for a circular economy and stimulate rural economic activity.

BPC General Manager Mohammad Ziaul Haque Howlader presented a keynote paper at the meeting, while representatives of government and private-sector organisations, along with members of the media, took part in discussions on the sector’s potential, challenges and possible measures for its development.

The recommendations and views emerging from the consultation would be considered in formulating future plans for the development and expansion of the tourism industry, BPC Chairman Md Shamimuzzaman said.

The meeting was attended by government officials, tourism-sector representatives and other stakeholders.