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Govt targets 6-7% GDP contribution from tourism sector: Afroza
Civil Aviation and Tourism Minister Afroza Khanam today said the government has set a target to raise the tourism sector's contribution to the country's Gross Domestic Product (GDP) to 6-7 percent as part of efforts to transform it into one of the key drivers of the national economy.
She said the government, under the leadership of Prime Minister Tarique Rahman, is working to build a sustainable, modern and world-class tourism sector, with an integrated Tourism Master Plan covering 1,498 tourist attractions currently under preparation to guide the industry's long-term development.
The minister made the remarks while addressing the oath-taking ceremony of the newly elected Executive Committee of the Tour Operators Association of Bangladesh (TOAB) as the chief guest at Gulshan Club in the capital this evening.
To support evidence-based policymaking, Afroza said the government has initiated the implementation of a nationwide Tourism Satellite Account (TSA) to address existing data gaps in the sector and sought active cooperation from TOAB and other stakeholders in the process.
She said transforming Cox's Bazar, home to the world's longest natural sea beach, into a regional tourism hub remains one of the government's top priorities, expressing hope that the newly built Cox's Bazar International Airport would help attract more international visitors and accelerate the sector's expansion.
The minister also said the government is planning to offer special discounts for expatriate Bangladeshis at hotels and motels operated by the state-owned Bangladesh Tourism Corporation (BTC) in recognition of their contribution to the country's economy.
Congratulating the newly elected TOAB executive committee, Afroza expressed confidence that its new leadership would play a vital role in advancing Bangladesh's tourism industry.
The function was attended, among others, by National Skills Development Authority Secretary and Executive Chairman Dr. Naznin Kawsar Chowdhury, Bangladesh Tourism Corporation Chairman Md. Shamimuzzaman, Philippine Ambassador to Bangladesh Nina P. Cayanglet, Sri Lankan High Commissioner Dharmapala Weerakkody, Brunei Darussalam High Commissioner Haji Haris bin Haji Othman, representatives of the Nepal and Pakistan embassies, TOAB leaders, journalists and tourism industry stakeholders, reports BSS.