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Japanese investors have expressed preliminary interest in investing $1.2 billion in Bangladesh’s tourism and hospitality sectors, with the government pledging to expedite necessary steps once formal proposals are submitted.
The Bangladesh Tourism Board will also arrange visits to tourist destinations across the country for the prospective investors.
The investment interest was announced at a meeting between a Japanese investor delegation and Civil Aviation and Tourism Minister M Rashiduzzaman Millat at the ministry’s conference room on Sunday (October 18).
Speaking at the meeting, the minister said Bangladesh had enormous potential for tourism, with its diverse natural attractions, heritage and culture capable of drawing international visitors.
He highlighted the Sundarbans, the world’s largest mangrove forest, Cox’s Bazar, known for its long unbroken natural sandy beach, and the tea gardens of Sylhet as destinations with significant potential for international promotion.
The minister said the government welcomed foreign investment in tourism and was keen to work with international investors to develop the sector.
Referring to Bangladesh’s longstanding friendship with Japan, he said Japanese cooperation had played an important role in developing the country’s key infrastructure and that the government would welcome similar support for tourism.
He added that the government was interested in mutually beneficial partnerships, including through the public-private partnership (PPP) model.
Members of the Japanese delegation said they were keen to invest in Bangladesh and ready to work with the country to develop its tourism industry. They announced an initial investment interest of $1.2 billion in the tourism and hospitality sectors.
Welcoming the interest, Millat said the government would take prompt action once the investors formally submitted their proposals.
He added that the Bangladesh Tourism Board would arrange visits to various tourist destinations to help identify potential investment opportunities and create new avenues for tourism development.