The World Tourism Day was celebrated in Bangladesh on Thursday to make it a tourist destination.
‘Tourism and Sustainable Energy: Powering Sustainable Development,’ was the theme of the day this year.
To mark the day, Bangladesh Tourism Board organised a roundtable discussion at the National Press Club.
Speaking at the session civil aviation and tourism minister Faruk Khan urged the new stakeholders of tourism sector to use renewable energy.
He said that the country needed eco-friendly investment in setting up hotel, motels and resorts for a sustainable tourism sector.
He said that the number of incoming tourists was increasing due to economic development of the country.
He said that the Padma Bridge would not only help improve the country’s communication system but also play an important role in promoting its tourism.
In his keynote paper, Bangladesh Monitor editor Kazi Wahidul Alam said that investment in green tourism could reduce the cost of energy, water, waste management and enhance the country’s biodiversity and ecosystem and protect its cultural heritage.
Civil aviation and tourism secretary Khorshed Alam Chowdhury, Bangladesh Tourism Board chief executive officer Akhtaruzzaman Khan Kabir, Bangladesh Parjatan Corporation chairman Maqsudul Hasan khan, Tour Operators Association Bangladesh president Hasan Mansur also spoke.
Earlier, Bangladesh Tourism Board held a rally from the Teachers and Students Centre of Dhaka University which was inaugurated by the civil aviation and tourism minister Muhammad Faruk Khan.
Civil aviation and tourism secretary Khorshed Alam Chowdhury and Dhaka University vice-chancellor A A M S Arefin Siddiqui were also present.
At the rally, minister launched the Aviation and Tourism Journalist’s Forum of Bangladesh.
Bangladesh Parjatan Corporation, Dhaka University Tourist Society, Tourism and Hospitality Management Department, North South University, IBAIS University, Peoples University and many other organization representatives joined at the rally.
BTB with the help of Dhaka University Tourist Society held a debate competition on ‘tourism’ at Teachers and Students Centre Cafeteria of Dhaka University.
BTB in association with WorkSpace and Vromon Bangladesh started a 2-day photo exhibition and competition at the National Parliament South Plaza and at the Chittagong Shilpakala Academy.
-With New Age input
