BangladeshCarRental.Com Guides

Guesthouses and hotels in tourist spots have almost been booked out due to pressure from local tourists seeking to spend long Eid holidays with their loved ones.

Industry people said the tourist flow would double this year as the Eid and Durga Puja, the two major festivals, will be observed in a space of a week.

The increased flow is fed by a growing habit of the urban middleclass to travel inside the country at affordable prices.

Ninety percent of the hotels and resorts in Cox’s Bazar, the country’s main tourist spot, have recorded full early bookings, said industry people.

Motel Shoibal, the biggest motel of Bangladesh Parjatan Corporation in Cox’s Bazar, has been booked in advance early this month for a week after the Eid.

“Usually, the tourism season starts in mid-October but this year it will start at the beginning of the month due to the Eid and Durga Puja,” said Sujit Barua, general manager of the motel.

He said the habit of urban middleclass to travel inside the country during festivals has developed much in the past five years, and 30 percent of the total income comes during this period.

Shoibal has five exclusive cottages, 62 rooms and a dormitory with an accommodation capacity of 300 guests, Barua said.

The tourist flow will continue through the next 15 days after the Eid day, but the flow will peak a week after the vacation.

There are around 65 hotels and motels in Cox’s Bazar with a combination of plush five-star hotel and low-end hotels and motels.

Seagull, a five-star hotel in Cox’s Bazar, has registered around 95 percent booking, said Masoom Iqbal, managing director of the hotel. The rest of the occupancy is reserved for government officials.

He said the bookings made are mainly for the next week after Eid and most of the tourists are local people from across the country.

Mid-end hotels in Cox’s Bazar, such as Albatross, have also been fully booked for five days after Eid, said Faysal Tito, manager of the hotel.

Besides Cox’s Bazar, other tourist spots such as Rangamati, Kuakata, Bandarban and St Martin’s island are also popular to the domestic tourists and are getting good response.

Nazrul Islam, project head of BPC’s newly established Mirinja Tourist Complex at Bandarban, said they have registered around 65 percent advance bookings. “We will take booking until Eid.”

Rezaul Raihan, general manager of Blue Marine resort in St Martin’s island, also said occupancy rates remain high during Eid and the festival plays a big role for encouraging domestic tourism even beyond the peak season from mid-October to March.

Along with the country’s major tourist belt in the southern region, tourists will also flock to different other resorts, and early bookings are high there.

There are around 20 resorts in the country — all built in private initiatives, and among them at least 12 resorts are open to the public.

The resorts such as Jamuna and Elenga close to Jamuna Bridge, Royal Resort in Tangail, Blue Marine in St Martin’s, Zastate and Nazim Garh in Sylhet have already been booked.

ANM Shahjahan, project manager of Jamuna Resort, said the resort with 110 rooms has been booked out for five days after Eid.

“We have already registered 70 percent reservation even for the Eid day and it’s quite common in recent years to gain 100 percent occupancy in times of festivals,” he said.

The tourism trend has driven many tour operators to offer holiday packages to different tourist spots in the country.

Different tour operators such as the Guide Tours, River and Green, and Unique Tours Bangladesh are offering tour packages for Eid.

Complaints linger.

Many tourists claimed that most hotels and motels in Cox’s Bazar are overcharging for advance booking.

But the hotel owners and management denied the complaints.

Shafique Alam Mehdi, chairman of BPC, said the changed lifestyle has been a major reason for the domestic tourism boost.

“This year Cox’s Bazar will attract more tourists, as it battles to win the top position of the New Seven Natural Wonders of the world,” he said.

Tourism, which is practice of traveling for pleasure, can afford the opportunity to take a trip and to get to know other cultures, and the development of tourism can help promote closer ties and peace among peoples, creating a conscience that is respectful of the diversity of cultures and life styles.

The resources on which tourism is based are limited and that there is a growing demand for improved environmental quality. Thus development of tourism must meet the economic expectations and environmental requirements, and must respect not only the social and physical structure of a location, but also the local population. Hence, the need to establish effective alliances among the principal actors in the field of tourism is so as to build the hope of tourism that is more responsible towards our common heritage.

The charter states that tourism development shall be based on criteria of sustainability, which means that it must be ecologically bearable in the long term, economically viable, as well as ethically and socially equitable for the local communities. The sustainable nature of tourism requires that it should integrate the natural, cultural and human environment; it must respect the fragile balances that characterize many tourist destinations, in particular many small islands and environmentally sensitive areas. To be compatible with sustainable development, tourism must be based on the diversity of opportunities offered by its local economy. It should be fully integrated into and contribute positively to the local economic development. Governments and authorities should promote actions for integrating the planning of tourism with environmental NGOs and local communities in order to achieve sustainable development.

The World Conference on Sustainable Tourism, held at Canary Islands in 1995, taking into consideration of all these, had drafted a charter for sustainable tourism, which is being guided by the principles set forth in the Rio Declaration on the Environment and development, and the recommendations that emanate from Agenda 21.

Agenda 21 is an international draft copy that delineates actions that governments, international organisations, industries and the community can take to achieve sustainability. These actions recognise the impacts of human behaviours on the environment and on the sustainability of systems of production.

The objective of Agenda 21 is the alleviation of poverty, hunger, sickness and illiteracy worldwide while halting the deterioration of ecosystems that sustain life. Adopted at the United Nations Conference on Environment and Development (UNCED) Summit meeting on 14 June 1992, Agenda 21 covers all the issues referred to UNCED by the UN General Assembly in its Resolution 44/228 of 1989.

Agenda 21 is divided into four sections viz. social and economic dimensions, conservation and management of resources for development, strengthening the role of major groups and means of implementation. Essential to a proper understanding of Agenda 21 is an appreciation of several major themes and ideas, which run through the document. These include the key role that must be played by strategies, plans and policies at a national level, the need for integrated decision making at all levels, and the importance of community involvement in the implementation of Agenda 21.

The sustainable mode of tourism naturally forms one of the integral themes of Agenda 21, since it is a worldwide phenomenon and also an important element of socio-economic and political development in many countries. Tourism touches the highest and deepest aspirations of all people. It is an ambivalent phenomenon since it has the potential to contribute to socio-economic and cultural achievement and since it can at the same time contribute to the depletion of the environment and the loss of local identity, it should be approached with a global methodology.

Measuring global climate phenomena, here world tourism day 2008 theme: Tourism: Responding to the challenge of Climate is very meaningful and significant; even in the light of Agenda 21. No UNWTO member state is coming forward sincerely to implement the core dictation of Agenda 21. Climate change is one of the greatest global challenges in general, and to sustainable development and the UN Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) in particular.

In the Bali conference, UNWTO had to face criticism for climate change. The Secretary-General of the World Tourism Organization, Francesco Frangialli said “We are all part of the great global economic pattern of tourism” Mr. Frangialli said. “Whether we come here to enjoy the beaches or the conference halls - or both, we are contributing to local commerce, to jobs, to investment and to export income. In so doing we are providing sustainable livelihoods through a long supply chain which we must increasingly help to make carbon clean. And we must start now.” The UNWTO Secretary-General has also said that in the past year the tourism sector - private and public stakeholders - had begun to unite in its support of the UN Secretary-General’s roadmap for a more climate responsible world.

Bangladesh expresses the same faith with The Davos Declaration held last year in Switzerland:

Climate is a key resource for tourism, and the sector is highly sensitive to the impacts of climate change and global warming, many elements of which are already being felt. Tourism is estimated to contribute some 5 per cent of global carbon dioxide emissions.

Tourism, business and leisure, will continue to be vital components of the global economy, important contributors to the MDG, and integral, positive elements in our society.

Given tourism’s importance in the global challenges of climate change and poverty reduction, there is a need to urgently adopt a range of policies which encourages truly sustainable tourism that reflects the “quadruple bottom line” of environment, social, economic and climate responsiveness.

The tourism sector must rapidly respond to climate change within the evolving UN framework, and progressively reduce its Greenhouse Gas (GHG) contribution if it is to grow in a sustainable manner. Bangladesh has also agreed with the dos and don’ts of the Summit for facing climate change. It has urged international support to safeguard the country’s tourism industry against the peril of climate change. Our then Tourism Advisor Maj Gen (retd) MA Matin said: “The international community needs to provide environmentally vulnerable and low-lying countries with financial and technical support to help them adapt at to the challenges of global climate change.”

Furthermore, it has been stated that environmentally and culturally vulnerable spaces, be given special priority in the matter of technical cooperation and financial aid for sustainable tourism development. Similarly, special treatment should be given to spaces that have been degraded by obsolete and high impact tourism models. Governments, authorities and NGOs with responsibility for tourism and the environment must promote and participate in the creation of open networks for information, research, dissemination and transfer of appropriate tourism and environmental knowledge on tourism and environmentally sustainable technologies. These stakeholders shall also monitor achievements, report on results and exchange their experiences.

There is also a need to support and promote feasibility studies, scientific fieldwork, the implementation of tourism demonstration projects within the framework of sustainable development, the development of programs in the field of international cooperation, and the introduction of environmental management systems.

The active contribution of tourism to sustainable development necessarily presupposes the solidarity, mutual respect, and participation of all the actors implicated in the process, especially those indigenous to the locality. Solidarity, mutual respect and participation must be based on efficient cooperation mechanisms at all levels - local, national, regional and international.

The adoption of, adherence to and implementation of codes of conduct conducive in the context of sustainable development by the principal actors, particularly industry members involved in tourism, are fundamental for tourism to be sustainable. Such codes constitute efficient instruments of the development of responsible tourist activities.

We need to form a policy for environment friendly tourism development very soon. Like Sri Lanka “earth lung community”, we may have to make bold declarations like “Green Bangladesh: No Cyclone,” or “25% re-forestation by 2020,” or “Kill environment, kill yourself.” We need to promote the concept of sustainable and responsible tourism widely before inviting foreign or local investors in the sector.

(The implementation of Agenda 21 will make a visible speed behind the world tourism day-2008 theme; Tourism: Responding to the challenge of Climate Change.)

To earn Tk 31,967.23 million from 17 lakh foreigners in tourism sector in the year 2021, the Bangladesh Parjaton Corporation has placed a consolidated development plan to the Ministry of Tourism.

The consolidated development plan, which was placed in December last, is yet to get government knock due to bureaucratic redtapism, according to BPC sources.

“The BPC will be able to earn Tk 5,641.28 million from three lakh foreign tourists in 2008, Tk 7,521.70 million from four lakh foreigners in 2009, Tk 9,402.13 million from five lakh foreigners in 2010, Tk 13,162.98 million from seven lakh tourists in 2011, Tk 16,923.83 million from nine lakh tourists in 2013, Tk 28,206.38 million from 15 lakh tourists in 2020 and Tk 31,967.23 lakh from 17 lakh foreign tourists in 2021,” according to consolidated development plan of BPC.

“The government should implement 115 short term, long term and midterm projects to make the BPC dream possible,” a high official of BPC said.

“We have placed the plan on the basis of increasing rate of foreign tourists in the country over the last couple of years,” a high official of the BPC told the New Nation.

“If the government approves the plan, it will change the entire picture of the country’s tourism sector,” he said

The government is not taking any initiative to approve the mega plan due to its financial constrain, according to the Ministry of Tourism.

BPC has proposed to divide the whole Bangladesh into eight separate regions to expand the tourism sector of the country through its proposed plan. The regions are–greater Sylhet, greater Mymensingh, Chittagong and Cox’s Bazar, Chittagong Hill Tract districts, Costal and Island, greater Rajshahi and the whole Northern region, greater Khulna and Sundarbans region and greater Dhaka region.

The tourism sector could not flourish as the government didn’t prioritise the tourism in national plan, no allocation for the sector in the national budget, no strong statutory tourism development organisation in the country, low investment from private sector in tourism sector, image crisis of Bangladesh outside the country, complexity to get visa to visit the country, insecurity of the foreign visitors, poor quality of service in air route, shortage of skilled manpower, proper policy of maintenance and management of tourism attraction areas, the consolidated development plan found out for the failure of tourism sector in the country.

“We are now in the right track to expand the tourism sector as the Cox’s Bazar, the longest sandy beach in the world and Sundarbans, the biggest mangrove forest are now securing first and second position of the seven natural wonders contest,” another high official said, adding, “If the government approves the consolidated plan, BPC will be able to draw attention of the foreigners through its promotional activities.”

Seagull Hotels Ltd, the owning company of five-star Seagull Hotel in Cox’s Bazar, is going to set up another five-star hotel in Teknaf, a southern resort and coastal area, 500 kilometres away from Dhaka.

The company management has already initiated process to purchase land in Teknaf to set up the hotel to be completed within next three years at a cost of around Tk 600 crore, said Managing Director of Seagull Hotels Masoom Iqbal.

Seagull Hotel started its journey in 2002 and reached the break-even point last year.

“We have a target of buying a stretch of 60 bighas land in Teknaf for the hotel as the number of foreign and local visitors is increasing rapidly there,” he said.

Masoom said the proposed hotel will have golf course, theme park, ropeway, marine aquarium and marine drive facilities.

He urged the government to formulate a befitting policy for the important tourist spots so the places in the coastal districts can be used properly as tourist spots.

He also called upon the government for making available an air landing space, bus and good railway communication facilities near Teknaf so that tourists can go there easily at cheaper costs.

Many small hotels are springing up in Teknaf and some other important tourist spots in the southern coastal districts, which will not be helpful for sustainable tourism development, Masoom said.

Development of hotels and motels in an unplanned and scattered manner will not help grow tourism business, as this will evolve a chance of damaging greenery, which is the main attraction of the tourist spots, he added.

“We have the potential of US$5-10 billion worth tourism business a year from Cox’s Bazar, Teknaf, Sonadia and St Martin’s coral island,” he said.

The flow of local and foreign visitors increased manifold over the last few years as people are increasingly becoming aware of the scenic beauty of Cox’s Bazar, Kuakata, Sonadia, St Martin’s and Teknaf, the Seagull MD said.

According to unofficial statistics reported in media, in 2007 arrivals of foreign tourists in Bangladesh grew by 35 percent over the previous year.

In 2007, 2.7 lakh tourists came to Bangladesh, while the number was 2 lakh in 2006. However, the number of visitors was 2.8 lakh in 2003.

The government is going to form a national tourism board soon for flourishing the country’s tourism industry.

“The process is underway to turn the Bangladesh Parjatan Corporation (BPC) into a national tourism board by changing its structure to make the organisation time-befitting, dynamic and effective,” BPC Chairman Shafique Alam Mehdi told BSS on Monday.

He hoped that the new organization would play a more effective role in the development of tourism industry of the country.

Meanwhile, the Civil Aviation and Tourism Ministry has finalised a draft tourism law, which is now for the government’s approval and likely to be announced by the end of this month.

“There are huge potentialities in the country’s tourism sector and if we can utilise those properly, Bangladesh will soon turn into a well-off nation,” Mehdi said.

The BPC chairman stressed the need for a well-coordinated plan to develop the country’s tourism sector in the greater national interest.

Mehdi said the country’s tourism sector was being neglected for the last 37 years.” The sector did not get proper attention during the period as there was no plan or accountability for it,” he said.

As a result, he added, the sector failed to achieve expected progress and prosperity.

The BPC chairman said after taking office the present caretaker government identified tourism as a thrust sector and undertook various steps for its gradual development.

The steps included construction and development of tourist motel and Buddhist temple at Kuakata, development of Mirinja Tourist Centre at Lama in Bandarban, construction of a motel in Moulavibazar and restaurants at Jaflong and Kantazi and expansion of motel in Dinajpur, construction of motel at Anwara in Chittagong and restaurant at Patenga Sea Beach, motels at Buimari Land Port and at Munshiganj in Satkhira, construction of restaurant at Birisiri in Netrokona and touris resorts in Saint Martin and Teknaf, construction of motels in Rangamati and Kaptai, introduction of tourist facilities in Baga Lake and Shuvalong, setting up special tourist zone in Cox’s Bazar and construction of tourism training centre in Sylhet.