First cruise ship to reach Sundarbans today

An ocean cruise ship, Silver Discover, belonging to the US-based tour operator Journey Plus, is likely to land at the Sundarban’s Hiron Point today as a part of linking Bangladesh with international ocean cruises. The ocean cruise ship will carry a total of 67 foreign tourists from 10 countries during its anchorage. After concluding a two-day tour of the Sundarbans and adjacent areas, it will leave Bangladesh on March 3 for Phuket Island of Thailand via Myanmar, civil aviation and tourism minister Rashed Khan Menon told reporters at a press conference yesterday.
The press conference was organised at the ministry’s conference room to brief media-persons about linking Bangladesh with the international ocean cruise. Civil aviation and tourism secretary SM Golam Farukh and Bangladesh Tourism Board chief executive officer (CEO) Dr Nasir Uddin were also present at the programme.
Menon said only tourism can create harmony among various nations across the world while boosting the country’s financial development and improving its image. Taking this into consideration, the government has taken steps to ensure that the tourism industry flourishes and expands. “Bangladesh has decided to link with the ocean cruise to expand the country’s tourism. It would help the government take the country’s tourism industry to the international level. At the same time, foreign earnings from the sector would scale new heights,” he added.
He added that the ocean cruise ship will continue its journey to Phuket of Thailand, starting from Andaman Island. It will travel via Colombo of Sri Lanka, Cox’s Bazar and Sundarbans of Bangladesh, Kolkata of India and Myanmar.
He said the first trip of the cruise had begun its journey on February 11 from Colombo. It anchored at Sonadia of Cox’s Bazar, entering Bangladesh on February 22. After travelling to different areas there, the ship visited Kolkata on February 24.
“In the first trip, the cruise ship carried around 95 tourists of 13 countries. During the return trip, the ship will carry 67 tourists of 10 countries and anchor at Hiron Point of Sundarbans on March 1. It will start for Phuket on March 3,” he added.
He claimed that the Bangladesh government has earned foreign currency worth around Tk. 35 lakh from the first trip. If the cruise acquires popularity, Bangladesh would earn more in future. He also urged the tour operators to invest more to ensure this sector’s development.

First cruise ship to reach Sundarbans today

An ocean cruise ship, Silver Discover, belonging to the US-based tour operator Journey Plus, is likely to land at the Sundarbans Hiron Point today as a part of linking Bangladesh with international ocean cruises. The ocean cruise ship will carry a total of 67 foreign tourists from 10 countries during its anchorage. After concluding a two-day tour of the Sundarbans and adjacent areas, it will leave Bangladesh on March 3 for Phuket Island of Thailand via Myanmar, civil aviation and tourism minister Rashed Khan Menon told reporters at a press conference yesterday. The press conference was organised at the ministrys conference room to brief media-persons about linking Bangladesh with the international ocean cruise. Civil aviation and tourism secretary SM Golam Farukh and Bangladesh Tourism Board chief executive officer (CEO) Dr Nasir Uddin were also present at the programme. Menon said only tourism can create harmony among various nations across the world while boosting the countrys financial development and improving its image. Taking this into consideration, the government has taken steps to ensure that the tourism industry flourishes and expands. Bangladesh has decided to link with the ocean cruise to expand the countrys tourism. It would help the government take the countrys tourism industry to the international level. At the same time, foreign earnings from the sector would scale new heights, he added. He added that the ocean cruise ship will continue its journey to Phuket of Thailand, starting from Andaman Island. It will travel via Colombo of Sri Lanka, Coxs Bazar and Sundarbans of Bangladesh, Kolkata of India and Myanmar. He said the first trip of the cruise had begun its journey on February 11 from Colombo. It anchored at Sonadia of Coxs Bazar, entering Bangladesh on February 22. After travelling to different areas there, the ship visited Kolkata on February 24. In the first trip, the cruise ship carried around 95 tourists of 13 countries. During the return trip, the ship will carry 67 tourists of 10 countries and anchor at Hiron Point of Sundarbans on March 1. It will start for Phuket on March 3, he added. He claimed that the Bangladesh government has earned foreign currency worth around Tk. 35 lakh from the first trip. If the cruise acquires popularity, Bangladesh would earn more in future. He also urged the tour operators to invest more to ensure this sectors development.