Employment opportunities in the country’s tourism industry have increased following an expansion of the domestic tourism market, according to a report of the World Travel and Tourism Council (WTTC).

According to the WTTC report—‘Travel & Tourism Economic Impact 2017, Bangladesh’—travel and tourism generated 10,57,000 jobs directly in 2016 (1.8% of the total employment) and this is forecast to grow by 1.8% in 2017 to 10,76,000 (1.8% of total employment).

This includes employment offered by hotels, travel agents, airlines and other passenger transportation services (excluding commuter services).

It also includes, for example, the activities of restaurant and leisure industries directly supported by tourists. By 2027, travel and tourism will account for 11,38,000 jobs directly, an increase of 0.6 per cent over the next ten years.

According to tour operators, 50 per cent of these employments will be created centred on Cox’s Bazar and the rest in Dhaka, Chittagong, Sylhet, the Sundarbans in Khulna and Satkhira, and some tourist spots in North Bengal.

According to tour operators and hotel and motel owners, around 60 per cent of the domestic travellers visit Cox’s Bazar. The rest usually visit Chittagong, Sylhet, the Sundarbans, and tourist destinations in North and South Bengal. Cox’s Bazar is famous for its long and natural sandy sea beach.

To enhance tourist facilities, the tourism industry is creating employment in this sector. Shiblul Azam Koreshi, director, Tour Operators Association of Bangladesh (TOAB) said it was important to focus on measures that would stabilise the sector and ensure growth. He added he was confident the industry would keep expanding.

Masud Hossain, managing director of Bengal Tours, told The Independent, “My personal information is that around 65 lakh tourists move across country every year. The number could be more but not less.”

Explaining the phenomenon, Masud said, “I have collected this data from various hotels, motels and resorts around the country. As a result, the chances of a lesser number of tourists travelling in the country are remote. In fact, the number could be more.”

According to Masud’s information, other than Cox’s Bazar, 25–30 lakh tourists travel to the Chittagong Hill Tracts every year, while the number varies between 8–10 lakh in case of Sylhet.

Some 2 to 2.5 lakh tourists visit places in North Bengal, such as Mahasthangarh, every year, adds Masud.

Stability of the domestic tourism market and the industry’s sustainable growth are vital, says Dhaka University Tourism and Hospitality Department Professor Syed Rashidul Hasan, adding that the government should lay emphasis on this sector.

He told The Independent that the growth being currently witnessed in the domestic tourism market did not happen overnight. The market had been growing gradually after 2000.

According to Prof. Hasan’s data, there were around 3–5 lakh domestic tourists in 2000, which has crossed the half a crore mark at present. The number of tourists could exceed one crore in future.

Along with a direct and indirect spurt in the number of tourists, the sector may outgrow the WTTC projection.

He finds this growing trend positive. The accommodation service is also reported to be developing around tourism spots, especially in Cox’s Bazar, the Chittagong Hill Tracts, and Sylhet.

Prof. Hasan, who has been working on the tourism industry for over three decades, said ensuring communication services and reducing traffic problems were crucial for the development of this sector. It was important to cut down travel time and ensure easy accessibility for travellers. Security issues, too, needed to be addressed, he felt.  

“The state also needs to take the initiative to treat domestic tourists with respect instead of viewing them as local or cheap travellers,” says Hasan.

Dr Md Nasir Uddin, chief executive officer (CEO) of the Bangladesh Tourism Board (BTB), told The Independent, “The domestic tourism market is growing rapidly and we are working to develop this market to enhance the continuity of the industry. We are working relentlessly within a limited budget with the relevant ministries to develop parks in the districts and the communication system across the country. Hopefully, the conditions will change fast.”

On the other hand, poor connectivity is hindering the growth of the country’s tourism industry. Though this problem has been a matter of long-standing discussions, no headway has been made yet in finding a solution.

The Bangladesh Parjatan Corporation, however, has kept up its efforts.

“If the number of visitors scales up, the job market will, logically, expand. Both local and foreign tourists mobilization is catering to job generation.” added Dr Nasir

Earlier, Akhtaruzzaman Khan Kabir, chairman of the corporation, said, “We are working with the local government to develop infrastructure like roads so that tourists can smoothly reach their destinations.”

Researchers, however, said apart from infrastructure

facilities, it was also necessary to make utilities such as water and healthcare available to tourists.

The tourism ministry has discussed the issue with other ministries, but no headway has been made yet. The National Tourism Policy, which was revised in 2010, emphasises the importance of inter-ministerial co-ordination to facilitate the implementation of projects meant to link tourist spots.

EA