Visiting Bangladesh
7 countries issue alert for their citizens
The governments of at least seven developed countries have asked their citizens not to visit Bangladesh due to political instability. Developed countries including USA, UK, Germany, France, Japan, Canada and Australia have issued notice on the website of their respective foreign ministries in this regard. Bangladesh Tourism Board chief executive officer Aktaruzzaman Khan Kabir told New Age that the board would send letters to missions of respective countries which have put yellow
alert on travelling to Bangladesh and the Bangladesh missions abroad in next few days detailing that political situation in Bangladesh was not so bad that requires putting alerts.
He said, ‘We will announce a meeting after October 25 with different political parties on the safety and security measures for foreign tourists during general strikes’.
Tour Operators Association of Bangladesh director Taufiq Rahman told New Age that the governments of many developed countries have asked their citizens not to visit Bangladesh due to political instability which would result in a grave loss for the country’s tourism sector.
He also said that tourism season has just started from last month and will continue until March. The booking of foreign tourists is higher than previous years. For this, Bangladesh government and all political parties have to ensure the security of foreign visitors during the general strikes.
Some bookings have already been canceled and more to be canceled due to the fear of political unrest after October 25, he added.
Taufiq pointed out that a meeting was held before Eid-ul-Azha with Bangladesh Tourism Board, TOAB and other stakeholders in this regard. They demanded that the government and political parties should exclude the Parjatan flag carrier transports during the general strikes and Bangladesh embassies abroad should open special cell to encourage foreign travelers to visit Bangladesh.
Travel advisory index of Australian department of foreign affairs and trade showed a high degree of caution to visit Bangladesh.
The USA and UK government have pointed out that Bangladeshi political situation is unstable and their nationals were advised not to visit Bangladesh at this moment.
According to Taufiq, Japan has given red alert about visiting Bangladesh which damages the goodwill of Bangladesh.
At present, the contribution of tourism sector is more than two per cent in the country’s GDP growth. Travel and tourism competitiveness 2013 report of World Economic Forum showed that the position of Bangladesh is 123, India in 65 position, Nepal in 112 and Pakistan in 122 in a competition with the other countries of tourism sector. In 2011 Bangladesh’s position was 129.
Courtesy of New Age
