Bangladesh is full of natural beauty. Rivers, coasts and beaches, archaeological sites, religious places, hills, forests, waterfalls, tea gardens surround it. The Sundarban, Historic Mosque in city of Bagerhat, Ruins of the Buddihist Vihara at Paharpur are the three world heritage sites in Bangladesh among 1007. To observe the beauty of nature, huge amount of domestic and foreign tourists visit the country and its tourist attraction sites. In 2012, around six-lakh (6 hundred thousand) tourists came Bangladesh to visit and enjoy its beauty. The total contribution of tourism to GDP was 4.4%, 3.8% to employment and 1.5% to investment in 2013. Bangladesh Parjatan Corporation (BPC) looks after the tourism sector in Bangladesh under the ministry of Civil Aviation and Tourism. Due to some limitations, Bangladesh has failed to introduce itself as a tourist destination country. The paper tries to focus on the attractive tourist spots of Bangladesh and the contribution of tourism in the Bangladesh economy. The major concern of the writer is to highlight the factors by which Bangladesh can be one of the major tourist attractive country in the world in near future.
Concept of tourism
Tourism is a travel for recreation, religious, leisure, family or business purposes, usually for a limited duration. Tourism can be domestic or international. Nowadays, tourism is one of the major source of income for many countries.
Nature of tourism
Tourism is a service industry. It has become a very complex activity encompassing a wide range of relationships. Resulting in the improvements in standard of living and disposable income with more leisure time, the overall numbers of tourists are expected to grow further.
Importance of tourism
Tourism is an important driver of economic growth. Besides this, People have an opportunity to exchange culture. Tourism can earn huge amount of foreign currency. Tourism can support the Balance of Payment (BOP) of a country. Tourism can create employment.
Impact of tourism
Tourism can bring many economic, social and environmental benefits, particularly in rural areas and developing countries, yet mass tourism is also associated with negative effects.Tourism can only be sustainable if it is carefully managed so that probable negative effects on the host community and the environment are not permitted to outweigh the financial benefits.
There are economic, socio-cultural and environmental key benefits of tourism.
Economic benefit:
Tourism can provide direct jobs to the community, such as tour guides and hotel housekeeping. Indirect employment is generated through other industries like agriculture, food production and retail.
- Social benefit:
In addition to the revenue, tourism can bring about a real sense of pride and identity to communities. It allows them to look at their history, and community identity. This helps the local residents to maintain their tradition and culture.
- Environmental benefit:
Tourism provides financial support for the conservation of ecosystems and natural resource management, making the destination more authentic and desirable to visitors.
Types of tourism
The type of tourism depends on the reason for travel. Travel can be to destinations that are domestic or international. Domestic tourism involves residents travelling only within their country.Based on the purpose of visit, tourism is categorized into the following:
- Leisure Tourism :
Tourists may travel to experience a change in climate and place and learn something new about the culture of a destination.These tourists prefer to stay in some quiet and relaxed destination preferably at a hill resort, beach resort or island resort.
- Cultural tourism :
Culture is one of the most important factors, which attract tourists to a destination. Cultural tourism gives insight to a way of people’s life of a distant land, its dressing, jewelry, dance, music culture, as well as architecture, customs and traditions, fairs and festivals.
- Religious tourism :
It is a form of tourism, where people travel individually or in groups for pilgrimage. Modern religious tourists visit holy cities and holy sites around the world.
- Family Tourism :
Family tourism involves the family unit and their participation in diverse forms of tourism activity. This includes visiting one’s relatives and friends for interpersonal reasons.
- Health Tourism :
Health tourism is also called as medical tourism. Today, many people travel great distances to exotic locations in search of medical treatment.Many hospitals have specially designed packages including resorts facilities.
- Sports Tourism :
Sports Tourism refers to travel which involves either viewing or participating in a sporting event staying apart from their usual environment. Normally these kinds of events are the motivators that attract visitors to visit the events like Cricket world cup, Olympic Games, FIFA World Cup etc.
- Educational Tourism :
Educational tourism developed because of the growing popularity of teaching and learning of knowledge and the enhancing of technical competency outside of the classroom environment.
- Business Tourism :
Tourists visit a particular destination for various reasons pertaining to his work such as attending a business meeting, conferences, conventions selling products, meeting with clients. Business tourism is popularly called as MICE (Meetings, incentives, conferences, and exhibitions) tourism.
Literature Review
Bangladesh government reformed the national tourism policy in 2010. Aims and goals of this policy is to increase employment, ensure economic development, environmental purity and sustainability. The major objective of the policy is to develop Eco-tourism through conservation of natural resources and promote well-being of the community, preservation of cultural values of the local community and their participation and sharing benefits.
Bangladesh at a glance and its tourism policy
Situated between Myanmar and India with the Bay of Bengal in the South, Bangladesh is the small country. It gained independence from Britain in 1947, becoming East Pakistan. On 16th December, 1971, Bangladesh achieved its sovereign independence under the leadership of Bangabondhu Sheik Mujibur Rahman after a bloody liberation war against the Pakistani Army on 26th March. The official and main language is Bangla, but there are many small tribal language groups. Dhaka is the capital. Dhaka, Chittagong, Khulna, Rajshahi, Sylhet, Barisal and Rangpur are the major cities. Bangladesh is mainly an agricultural country.
Objectives of tourism policy (what to do)
1) To construct various rules under the law where the main objective is to fill in the gap of existing tourism rules and let regulations proceed;
2) To develop tourism industries through various planning related activities and side by side give advice as well as directions;
3) To create general awareness regarding tourism protection, development and exploration;
4) To execute responsible tourism through creation of some helping hand on behalf of government like as personal sector, local people, local administration, NGO, women federation, media;
5) To create better communication channel for the International Tourists Organizations in Bangladesh with both government and private tourism related organizations;
6) To create a strong and safe foothold for the Bangladeshi Tourist by coordinating with respective government organizations;
7) To create a tourism friendly environment in Bangladesh and to market its tourism potential in both domestic and foreign nations;
8) To develop human resource for tourism sector by creating training facilities and provide them with the right directions;
9) To attract tourists by maintaining quality and relevant material which in turn can provide smooth tourism service and ensuring necessary actions that need to be taken for maintenance;
10) To ensure the participation of physically challenged people;
11) To protect women rights and ensure their participation in the tourism sector;
12) To research on tourism industry, to survey international markets and to analyze the data.
Tourist spots in Bangladesh
Jaflong:
Tourist spots in Bangladesh are not concentrated in any particular place. Instead, they are scattered throughout the country. Division wise, we can present the tourist spots in Bangladesh as:
Jaflong is one of the best natural tourist spot in Sylhet. It is situated at the border between Bangladesh and the Indian state of Meghalaya. It is takes two hours to drive from Shylet. Tourist can learn something from the lifestyle of Tribe Khasia in Jaflong.
Ratargul:
Ratargul is a fresh water swamp forest situated in Sylhet by the river of Goain. The water comes here from the adjacent Goain River. The flavor of Amazon forest is available there.
Madhabkunda waterfall:
This is one of the largest waterfalls in Bangladesh. It is situated in Moulvibazar District. On the way visitors can see the greenish beauty of tea garden and the hills. Rubber and lemon plantations form a beautiful landscape.
Satchari National Park:
This Park is in Habiganj District. Wildlife in this park is rich.
Bisanakandi:
Bisanakandi is situated at Bangladesh-India border in Sylhet. It is a landscape beauty among gardens and hills. Winter is not a suitable time to visit Bisnakandi due to mechanised mining and stone-laden boats and lorries.
Srimongal:
Srimongal is famous for the largest tea gardens of world. Most of the tea estates are in Srimongal. It is called “The land of two leaves and a bud”. It is known as the tea capital in Bangladesh. Bangladesh Tea Research Institute (BTRI) and Tea Museum are functioning there.
Lawacherra Rain Forest:
Well-reserved forests in Bangladesh. Prime attraction of this forest is rare Chloroform tree of Asia. It is like “A Piece of Paradise”.
Patenga Sea Beaches:
It is about 22 km. from Chittagong city. Besides the sea beach, you can enjoy boating and river cruise in the River Karnaphuli.
Port Area:
This is the principal sea port of Bangladesh.
Cox’s Bazar:
World longest (120 km long) beach .Winter is the season to visit the Cox’s Bazar.
St. Martins Island:
St. Martins Island is the most beautiful Coral Island.
Himchori:
Himchori is famous for waterfall. Visitor can reach there by jeep from Cox’s Bazar.
Parki beach:
It is situated in Anwarathana under southern Chittagong region.
Lalmai, Moinamoti and Shalbon Bihar:
They are famous historical and archeological places around Comilla city.
Rangamati:
If you don’t visit Rangamati you will unable to discover a big portion of natural beauties of Bangladesh.
Khagrachari:
Khagrachhari is the natural wild beauty of Bangladesh. Here visitor can visit the tribal lifestyle.
Kaptai Lake:
Built in early sixties Kaptai Dam and the lake are the main attractions of Kaptai.
Bandarban:
Chimbuk hill is one of the major attractions of Bandarban.
Ahsan Manzil:
Ahsan Manzil was a presidential palace for Dhaka Nawab Family.
Shaheed Minar:
The Shaheed Minar is a national monument in Dhaka.
Jatiyo Smritisoudho:
Jatiyo Sritishoudho is the symbol in the memory of sacrifice of all those who gave their lives in the Bangladesh Liberation War of 1971.
Jatiya Sangshad Bahavan:
It has been used for the Bangladesh National Assembly.
Sundarban:
The Sundarban is the world largest tidal mangrove forest. The Sundarbans cover approximately 10,000 square kilometers, of which 60 percent is in Bangladesh with the remainder in India. The Sundarbans is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Kuakata:
Kuakata is a panoramic sea beach located in the Patuakhali district. Kuakata has a wide sandy beach from where one can see both the sunrise and sunset.
Conclusion and Recommendations
Now Bangladesh is middle income country. Its average GDP growth rate is 8.3%. The economy is highly dependent on work force export, Ready Made Garments (RMG) and agriculture sector. Other prominent sectors are shipbuilding, pharmaceuticals etc. The rate of employment is 90 %, which is below expected level. As a result, disguised employment and employment at low wage rate is rising. Many of the people are illegally crossing border in the hope of better life.As part of tourism sector development, recently government has passed the Cox’s Bazaar Development Authority (CDA) at the meeting of ministry.The government of Bangladesh should place equal emphasis in its policy on the development of the tourist spots all over the country. This will create employment opportunity on the one hand and on the other hand it reduces the dependence of the country on some other specific sectors.
