Play store
Bangladesh is set to host its largest-ever international tourism and travel trade exhibition as more than 20 countries are expected to participate in the inaugural Bangladesh Travel Mart (BTM) 2026, a three-day event aimed at positioning the country as an emerging tourism and travel hub in South Asia.
Organised by the Bangladesh Outbound Tour Operators Association (BOTOA), the event will be held at Hotel InterContinental Dhaka from September 3 to 5.
More than 130 domestic and international exhibitors, 50 hosted international buyers, 200 Bangladeshi buyers, representatives from over 100 tourism organisations and nearly 15,000 visitors are expected to attend the event, which organisers describe as the country’s largest international tourism marketplace.
Announcing the event at a press conference in Dhaka on Friday, BOTOA President Syed Golam Mohammad said Bangladesh’s tourism sector is entering a new era, driven by improved connectivity, growing private investment, stronger government support and increasing international engagement.
“Bangladesh possesses exceptional natural beauty, a rich cultural and historical heritage, and renowned hospitality. Bangladesh Travel Mart 2026 will provide an international platform to showcase these strengths and establish stronger partnerships with the global tourism industry,” he said.
He said the event is expected to significantly strengthen Bangladesh’s image as an attractive tourist destination while creating new business opportunities across the tourism, hospitality and aviation sectors.
BOTOA General Secretary Md Shariful Islam Sharif said although the association primarily represents the country’s outbound tourism industry, it is equally committed to promoting inbound tourism and attracting more foreign visitors.
“BTM 2026 reflects our long-term vision of positioning Bangladesh more prominently in the global tourism marketplace while creating meaningful opportunities for business partnerships, investment and international collaboration,” he said.
BTM Chief Coordinator Mohsin Iqbal said the event would bring together national tourism boards, airlines, hotels, destination management companies, tour operators and travel agencies from around the world under one roof, creating a comprehensive networking platform for the travel industry.
The exhibition will feature separate Business-to-Business (B2B) and Business-to-Consumer (B2C) sections to facilitate both commercial negotiations and direct engagement with travellers.
A major highlight of the event will be Bangladesh’s first-ever International Hosted Buyer Programme, under which selected international buyers will participate in structured business meetings with exhibitors to explore new partnerships and tourism opportunities.
The B2B segment will include pre-scheduled buyer-seller meetings, networking sessions and investment discussions aimed at expanding regional tourism, cross-border travel and cooperation in the hospitality and aviation industries.
Meanwhile, the B2C exhibition will allow visitors to explore domestic and international tour packages, airline ticket offers, hotel reservations, visa services, destination information and a wide range of promotional travel deals.
Insiders believe the event will help strengthen Bangladesh’s presence in the global tourism market, attract greater foreign investment and encourage sustainable growth of the country’s tourism sector by fostering closer collaboration with international travel stakeholders.