Bangladesh Government Targets Tourism Sector Growth to Boost GDP Contribution
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The Bangladeshi government is prioritizing the development of the tourism sector to establish it as a primary driver of the national economy. Minister of Civil Aviation and Tourism Afroza Khanam announced the strategic push on Sunday during the oath-taking ceremony for the newly elected executive committee of the Tour Operators Association of Bangladesh (TOAB) in Dhaka.
The government has set a target to increase the tourism industry’s contribution to the national gross domestic product (GDP) to between 6 and 7 percent. To achieve this, authorities are implementing a Tourism Satellite Account (TSA) to bridge existing data gaps and improve industry transparency. Minister Khanam emphasized that collaborative efforts between the government and stakeholders, including TOAB, remain essential to the success of this initiative.
Central to these efforts is a comprehensive tourism master plan currently under development, which aims to integrate 1,498 tourist attractions across the country. This framework is designed to serve as a long-term blueprint for sustainable infrastructure and service growth. Among the government’s immediate priorities is transforming Cox’s Bazar into a regional tourism hub, with the newly constructed international airport expected to serve as a critical catalyst for attracting foreign visitors and expanding the sector’s reach.
Acknowledging the contributions of the Bangladeshi diaspora, the Minister also disclosed plans to offer special discounts at hotels and motels managed by the state-owned Bangladesh Tourism Corporation. She expressed optimism that the new leadership at TOAB would play a vital role in navigating these future developments and strengthening the industry.
The event, held at the Gulshan Club, drew a diverse audience including representatives from the National Skills Development Authority, the Bangladesh Tourism Corporation, and members of the diplomatic corps, including the ambassadors of the Philippines, Sri Lanka, and Brunei, as well as representatives from Nepal and Pakistan.
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