Tk 372cr budget for civil aviation, tourism industry
BSS
An allocation of Tk 372 crore for Ministry of Civil Aviation and Tourism has been made in the budget proposed for 2015-16 fiscal year for boost of both the tourism industry and as well as the fast growing aviation industry of the country, reports BSS.
This proposed budget is Tk 225 crore more than the revised budget of 2014-15 fiscal year, that was Tk 147 crore. While comparing, the proposed budget of the fiscal 2014-15 for Ministry of Civil Aviation and Tourism was of Tk 160 crore.
Of the total Tk 372 crore, Tk 329 crore will be spent under the Annual Development Programme (ADP) and Tk 43 crore under the non-development sector.
Finance Minister Abul Maal Abdul Muhith made the announcement while placing the budget for the new financial year before the Jatiya Sangsad yesterday.
The Minister said the year 2016 has been declared as Tourism Year to revitalise the tourism sector.
Although local tourists will play the key role in observing this year, initiatives will be taken to gradually increase the number of international tourists to around 10 lakh and income from this sector to US$200 million by 2018 through improving the facilities at different places of tourist interest, Muhith said.
Noting that a site has been chosen to establish an eco-park in Sylhet, which will soon be opened, the Minister said the Sundarban Tourism Policy has been approved.
We have taken a number of steps to expand the ecotourism industry, we have already opened Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Safari Park with international standard facilities at Gazipur and Sheikh Russel Aviary and Eco Park in Chittagong, he said. An integrated plan has also been formulated for the development of tourism in Coxs Bazar, Teknaf, Saint Martin and Moheshkhali, the Minister informed the house.
About beautification of Dhaka City, the Minister said we have taken up projects to beautify Gulshan-Banani-Baridhara and Uttara lakes and develop them as amusement areas after implementing the visually pleasant Hatirjheel project.
The finance minister said the government has taken steps to improve the capacity of the Hazrat Shahajalal International Airport to provide better services.
At the same time, he said the Coxs Bazar Airport development project is going to be initiated.
In order to enhance passenger carrying capacity and standard of services of the Bangladesh Biman, the process of adding several new generation aircrafts to its fleet is underway, he said, adding moreover, we have plans to construct Khan Jahan Ali and Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman Airports.
