2024-07-04 01:41:10
The contribution of the tourism industry to Bangladesh’s GDP is about 4 percent and employment generation is about 1.78 percent, said Civil Aviation and Tourism Minister Muhammad Farooq Khan.
He gave this information in response to a written question of MP Afam Bahauddin in the session of the National Parliament on Tuesday (July 2). Speaker Shirin Sharmin Chowdhury presided over the session.
Farooq Khan said, Bangladesh Tourism Corporation was established by government order in November 1972 under the instructions of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman. This autonomous organization started its journey from January 1973. Since its inception, the organization has been introducing, promoting and providing tourism services to local and foreign tourists of the beautiful heritage and tourist attractions of Bangladesh. The tourism industry contributes about 4 percent to Bangladesh’s GDP and about 1.78 percent to employment generation. This rate is constantly increasing.
He said that the tourism sector is the most affected by the global corona virus infection. Even during the Corona pandemic, Bangladesh Tourism Corporation has paid salaries and allowances to the officers and employees. After overcoming the losses during the Corona period, Bangladesh Tourism Corporation continues its profit trend even now. The organization is an autonomous institution of the government running on its own income.
The minister said that as a part of identifying new tourist attractive spots in the country and taking measures for their development, Chittagong, Rajshahi, Tungipara of Gopalganj, Mujibnagar of Meherpur, Chapainawabganj, Rangpur, Bogra, Dinajpur, Sylhet, Cox’s Bazar, Kuakata of Patuakhali, Hill District Rangamati, Khagrachari, along with the capital Dhaka, , a total of 53 tourism-related establishments (hotels, motels, resorts, restaurants, amusement parks, bars, picnic spots and duty free shops) have been set up by the government through the Bangladesh Tourism Corporation in the remote areas of the country including Bandarban. These institutions are operating successfully, which have been playing a major role in the development of the tourism industry of the country.