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Bangladesh welcomed a record 650,000 foreign visitors in the last year.

However, the country's first-ever tourism master plan has set a more ambitious goal: to attract eight times that number by 2041. The Bangladesh Tourism Board (BTB) has finalized this highly anticipated plan, which aims to draw 5.57 million international tourists annually by 2041, while creating nearly 22 million jobs within the sector.

The key question now is how the country plans to meet these lofty goals under the new master plan. Inbound tourists are a crucial pillar in strengthening the travel and tourism industry by generating foreign currency. Despite its vast potential, Bangladesh remains relatively underdeveloped as a tourist destination compared to its neighboring countries, according to industry insiders.

Several challenges, including poor infrastructure, visa complications, food issues, limited entertainment options, social restrictions, and inadequate transportation, discourage tourists from visiting Bangladesh, they say.

For comparison, the Maldives and Sri Lanka attracted around 1.8 million and 1.5 million international tourists, respectively, last year. Bangladesh, on the other hand, saw only 0.65 millions visitors — the highest number since the Bangladesh Tourism Board (BTB) was established in 2010 and began tracking tourist data.

Among last year’s visitors, India accounted for the largest share, with nearly 290,000 tourists, followed by travelers from the UK, US, Canada, Australia, and Italy. Additionally, sector experts note that the number of leisure tourists remains low.

According to Taufiq Rahman, CEO of Journey Plus, an inbound tour operating company, the number of actual leisure tourists in Bangladesh last year was only about 25,000 to 30,000.

"Many of the inbound tourists were non-resident Bangladeshis with foreign passports. Additionally, a significant portion came for MICE tourism (meetings, incentives, conferences, and exhibitions) and work-related reasons," he explained.

The master plan outlines a comprehensive strategy to revitalize Bangladesh's struggling tourism sector, according to stakeholders. Officials emphasize that it is a long-term project consisting of numerous detailed initiatives designed to develop the country comprehensively and establish it as one of the world’s premier tourist destinations. In its initial phase, the BTB is focusing on promoting already-developed tourism products. It is also working on formulating several policies that are crucial to driving inbound tourism.

The plan identifies 1,498 tourism resources across the country and evaluates 14 themes, considering factors such as market potential, uniqueness, resource availability, and sustainability. However, officials note that the tourism board currently lacks the necessary capacity to implement the plan effectively due to a shortage of human resources.

There is an urgent need to strengthen the national tourism organization by hiring more professionals to handle the increased workload.

The newly formulated plan calls for over $1 billion in public and private investments to develop 10 tourism clusters. Feasibility studies for five of these projects are already underway, according to the Bangladesh Tourism Board. Moreover, the government plans to invest in infrastructure development, including roads, electricity, and security, while private investors are expected to focus on constructing star hotels, resorts, amusement parks, and other luxury facilities.

Abu Taher Md Jaber, CEO of the Bangladesh Tourism Board, stated, "We will assess the tourism potential in Bangladesh and establish the necessary facilities for both tourists and investors. We will also identify suitable locations for private investors to develop hotels and resorts."

He emphasized that the primary goal of the master plan is to promote economic prosperity and create job opportunities, saying, "The master plan serves as a detailed roadmap for the progressive development of our tourism sector, with specific regional plans tailored to each division of the country."

He added, "The master plan identifies 50 clusters, with 19 of them marked as priority areas. For example, the region around Srimangal is part of one such priority cluster." To achieve its objectives, the master plan advocates for infrastructure development, including the construction of heliports, the expansion of transportation networks, and the improvement of accommodation facilities. It also calls for effective marketing campaigns, enhanced service quality standards, the promotion of cultural and natural attractions, and the creation of a secure and welcoming environment for tourists.

According to sources, approximately 5 million Bangladeshis are employed in the travel and hospitality sector. Officials have announced that the implementation of five tourism development projects under the master plan — located in Tanguar Haor (Sunamganj), Nijhum Dwip (Noakhali), Sompur Mahavihara (Paharpur), Sharankhola (Sundarbans), and Mawa (Padma Bridge) — will begin soon. The plan also aims to boost sports tourism, positioning Bangladesh as a hub for sports enthusiasts, including golf lovers. "Sports tourism will be integrated into the master plan. Golf, for example, is currently inaccessible to middle-income people in the country. All stakeholders need to collaborate to promote such sports so that both local and international sports enthusiasts are attracted to Bangladesh's sporting scene," said Md Mazharul Islam, Deputy Director of the Bangladesh Tourism Board.

The plan was developed by IPE Global, an international tourism consulting firm based in India, on behalf of the Bangladesh Tourism Board.

The total cost of preparing the plan was Tk 28 crore. The drafting of the master plan began in January 2020 and was completed in June 2023.

According to BTB sources, the final draft has been submitted to the ministry of civil aviation and tourism for review, and the National Tourism Council (NTC), chaired by Professor Muhammad Yunus, is expected to grant final approval at its upcoming meeting.

 

Kamran Siddiqui is a journalist based in Dhaka