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Bangladesh has set a target to more than double the tourism sector’s contribution to the Gross Domestic Product (GDP), raising it from the current 2-3 percent to 7 percent by integrating the sector more firmly with the mainstream economy, Secretary of the Ministry of Civil Aviation and Tourism Fahmida Akhtar said on Saturday.
Addressing a press conference marking World Tourism Day at the Bangladesh Parjatan Corporation Bhaban in Agargaon, she said a satellite account was being developed to assess the sector’s actual contribution and future potential.
The account would provide a comprehensive picture of tourism-related economic activities, including employment generation, the number of domestic and foreign tourists, inbound and outbound tourism, and travellers’ preferred destinations, she said.
Based on the data, the National Tourism Master Plan is being updated in line with the government’s strategic development plan, with the process expected to be completed by December, she added.
The ministry has chalked out a week-long programme from September 27 to October 3 to mark World Tourism Day, which is being observed this year under the theme “Tomorrow’s Tourism through Digital Transformation and Artificial Intelligence”.
The programme includes a colourful rally, a cycle rally, a guided city tour for underprivileged children, exchange meetings with tourism stakeholders and foreign diplomats, as well as exhibitions and discussion sessions.
Bangladesh Tourism Board (BTB) Chief Executive Officer Mutasim Billah Faruqui told the press conference that a colourful rally involving public and private tourism stakeholders would be held on September 27.
The rally will showcase rural Bengal’s traditional lifestyle, the heritage of ethnic communities and Dhaka’s cultural legacy. A cycle rally will also be held on the same day at 9:30am.
An exchange meeting with tourism stakeholders is scheduled for September 28, while a similar meeting with foreign diplomats based in Bangladesh will take place on September 30.
The meetings are aimed at promoting Bangladesh’s tourism potential, attracting more foreign tourists and fostering mutual cooperation, Faruqui said.
The main World Tourism Day event will be held on October 3 at the Bangladesh-China Friendship Convention Centre in Sher-e-Bangla Nagar.
The event will feature 12 themed exhibition stalls highlighting Bangladesh’s traditional culture and cuisine, Geographical Indication (GI) products, craft souvenirs, handloom and textiles, ethnic heritage, tourist destinations and rural Bengali lifestyle.
In keeping with this year’s theme, artificial intelligence-based demonstrations on tourist destination experiences, time travel and photography will also be showcased.
A discussion session titled “Tomorrow’s Tourism through Digital Transformation and Artificial Intelligence” will also be held as part of the programme.
For the first time, the “Bangladesh Tourism Award 2026” will be presented in 13 categories. The awards will recognise contributions to the sustainable development of the tourism industry, service quality improvement, innovation, digital transformation, local community engagement, women and young entrepreneurs, and the preservation of the environment and cultural heritage.
Faruqui said initiatives were also underway to intensify international tourism promotion to attract more foreign visitors.
The initiatives would involve foreign diplomats as well as influential international bloggers, influencers and journalists, who would be encouraged to showcase Bangladesh’s tourism potential to global audiences, he said.
He added that Bangladesh was participating in international tourism fairs and events abroad to promote the country’s tourism resources and image.
Training was also being provided to tourism-sector workers and immigration police personnel, who are often among the first points of contact for foreign tourists arriving at Bangladeshi airports, Faruqui said.
