Govt takes comprehensive plans to boost tourism: PM

Prime Minister Tarique Rahman today said that the government has taken different plans to ensure development of the country's tourism sector. "Tourism is an important sector for the country's economy. The current government has taken various action plans to advance this sector. The current government's election manifesto includes five tourism-related promises," he said. 

The premier said this while replying to a tabled question from treasury bench lawmaker from Dhaka-19 constituency Dewan Mohammod Salahuddin in the House with Speaker Hafiz Uddin Ahmad, Bir Bikram, in the chair. Tarique Rahman, also ruling BNP chairman, said the government's tourism-related commitments include ensuring tourist safety and formulating tourism-friendly policies, training for tour guides, expansion of culinary tourism, expansion of community, flourishing ethnic and water-based tourism, and the development of eco-tourism and rural tourism.

He said that in line with the country's socio-economic conditions and the growing demand from both domestic and international tourists, the government is adopting short, medium, and long-term action plans to implement the tourism-related commitments outlined in the election manifesto. The premier said that a draft of the 'National Tourism Master Plan' has already been prepared. 

The action plan outlines provisions for formulating laws, policies, and codes of conduct related to tourism, establishing tourism clusters, preserving local heritage, improving infrastructure, flourishing coastal tourism, protecting biodiversity, reducing carbon emissions, and addressing climate change, he added.

Overall, the master plan presents an integrated and strategic roadmap for the development of the tourism industry over the next two decades, the Prime minister said. Noting that there are currently recognized and attractive tourist destinations in more than 30 districts across the country, Tarique Rahman said initiatives have been taken to create local heritage and culture-based tourism facilities by considering the tourism potential of each district, with the aim of expanding tourism facilities in all regions and developing balanced tourism.