Follow the Google News feed to get the latest news from The Daily Tribunal
Concentrating on the 100th birth centenary of the Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman and the golden jubilee of Bangladesh’s Independence, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina-led government is implementing the maiden tourism master plan to turn the tourism sector into a large-scale industry: Abu Taher Md Jaber
Shamsul Haque Basunia/ G R Pervez
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina- led government has undertaken a master plan to turn the tourism sector into a large-scale industry to ensure a higher contribution to the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) and to attain a sustainable and vibrant economy.
The upcoming industrial policy will provide a special concentration on the business-boosting mechanism of the tourism sector. Concentrating on the 100th birth centenary of the Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman and the golden jubilee of Bangladesh’s Independence, the government has undertaken a new plan to boost the tourism industry.
“The government is dedicated to familiarizing the name of Bangladesh with the global community by ensuring an international standard tourism industry. As part of this initiative, we are patronizing branding activities of ‘Mujib Bangladesh”, told Abu Taher Md Jaber, Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Bangladesh Tourism Board (BTB) to the Daily Tribunal while providing an exclusive interview at his office in the capital and the conversation is sharing in the below for readers’ interest.
Daily Tribunal Question: What is the update of the master plan for boosting the tourism sector?
Abu Taher Md Jaber: The government has taken the initiative to implement the first ever tourism master plan on January 01, 2020, which was largely affected by the pandemic adversity. During the post-pandemic period, the authorities already started to complete the remaining activities under the master plan which will conclude by December this year.
Daily Tribunal Question: What is your specific plan for implementing the action plan?
Abu Taher Md Jaber: The authority identified some 1,051 tourism spots under the new tourism action plan. Of them, 50 attractive spots will get special attention to consider their importance in the home and abroad. However, the action plan includes short, medium, and long-term basis programs to boost the country’s tourism sector accordingly.
Daily Tribunal Question: What security measures have been taken for ensuring the security of overseas tourists?
Abu Taher Md Jaber: The authority is focusing on the complete security of all the tourist spots in the country. The introduction of tourist police is a visible reference for ensuring the security of the existing tourist spots. The authority is tremendously concerned about the security of foreign tourists, and for this, we are proving hospitality and all the required security services in a hassle-free manner for attracting more foreign tourists.
Daily Tribunal Question: Would you mind explaining the economic benefit to boost the tourism industry?
Abu Taher Md Jaber: There are multiple positive effects on the economy to boost the tourism sector in the country. The business-boosting mechanism of the tourism sector will largely generate employment opportunities in all areas of the country by 2030. In recent years, the tourism sector is contributing between 3 to 4 percent to the country’s GDP, but it is our firm belief that the sector will ensure at least 10 percent contribution to GDP.
Daily Tribunal question: What type of approaches were taken to maintain the international standard tourism sector?
Abu Taher Md Jaber: The authority has undertaken multifarious initiatives to maintain the international standard tourism sector. We are focusing to create skilled manpower for boosting the tourism sector and ensuring the international standard tourism industry. Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman Tourism & Hospitality Training Institute is producing skilled manpower for boosting the tourism sector.
Daily Tribunal: What type of preventive measures were taken to revamp the tourism sector from pandemic adversity?
Abu Taher Md Jaber: The authority allocated financial assistance worth Tk 600 billion so far among the pandemic-affected stakeholders to restart their normal business operations in the country. Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina declared a stimulus loan package worth Tk 1,000 crore to revamp the tourism sector. Apart from this, the budgetary allocation for the fiscal 2022-23 worth over Tk 7,000 crore is surely improving the existing infrastructure of the entire tourism industry.