Himchari National Park, Bangladesh Tourism The Most

                                                             park spot

Bangladesh is one of those few countries who are not that rich but continuously, developments are undergoing in this country. All this credit goes to its government where people are good enough than other under developed countries, who want to see their country on the highest peak in each and every manner; whether its agriculture or tourism. This country has shown another remarkable development in the form of Himchari national park which is superb attraction for the outside visitors. This park has promoted Bangladesh tourism the most due to which ratio of visiting this place is increasing day by day.

This park is a tropical rainforest which is nearby the famous Cox’s Bazar. This is mainly protected and managed just for those types of people, who want to spend good quality of time in a fresh green environment. Every Bangladesh tourist wants to view this park, whether he lives inside the country or has come from abroad. You will see three types of foresting in this park. You will view high forest, low forest and also fresh looking grasslands are there to give cool affect to the eyes of tourists. This place is very useful for those people who are involved in botany field.

There are more than 50 species of trees cultivated in this park. For researchers, there are 20 types of herbs which can be helpful to make a good medicine. Herbs like Curculigo recurvata are the worthwhile herbs across the world, which are easily available in this park. If you are a student of botany and wants to do an important research work then no place is as valuable as this park is. You will always obtain exciting feelings from travel to Bangladesh where more than 250 species of birds can be seen. Would you like to miss the view, when you can have the scene of crowded sky with beautiful looking birds?

This area is equipped with plentiful wild animals which force the tourists to come and visit this place again. You will never get bored in this rainforest which has all amenities of seeing complete forest life.

Tourism in economic development of Bangladesh

BANGLADESH is a developing country and still faces many difficulties. The country has achieved political sovereignty, but economic freedom has yet to be gained. In seeking the goal of self-reliance, tourism can definitely contribute to development of the country.

In the productive sector there has been lot of investment over the years. The return from the manufacturing sector or agricultural sector has been reasonable. But the country has not seen much investment in services sector. The tourism industry, however, offers an avenue of investment that can ensure a better and lucrative return, thus contributing more to the national economy.

Tourism has always been developed as a multilateral industry. Unlike other productive industries, it has wide range of inputs and, as a result, expenditures on inputs are distributed more widely than in most traditional industries. The resultant distribution of wealth creates a higher multiplier effect in the economy. Moreover, the tourism industry offers a variety of choices. For example, a tourist may like to buy some product or visit a part of the country. The wider circulation of money through so many sellers will have an obviously greater multiplier effect in the economy. There is, of course, no specific calculation of this effect as yet, but according to a report prepared by the World Tourism Organisation in 1990, the multiplier effect in the tourism sector was 1:5. Nevertheless, with the advent or a variety of choices, this effect is much higher in Bangladesh at present.

Since the tourism industry requires a series of inputs that are varied in nature, it automatically opens up a wide range of economic activities in different professions and different areas. For example, establishment of a hotel in certain areas calls for regular supply of many items and as a result economic activities for production and supply of those items automatically grow up there. The wide variety of choices by the visiting tourists also calls for variety of supplies from different areas thus creating a chain of economic activities.

Tourism is mostly a service industry. Therefore, it is more labour oriented than other sectors of production. Automated and computerised processes may replace human beings in other industries to a great extent, but in the tourism sector the key factor is service, particularly personal service. Moreover, the wide varieties of choices in tourism very seldom allow automation. It is, therefore, clear that the tourism industry offers more employment opportunities than other industries. It is a fact that with the growth of population in the country, the problem of unemployment has become acute. Thus, in view of the fact that Bangladesh has a labour-intensive economy the creation of more employment opportunities is essential. The tourism industry can create employment opportunities and a productive labour force to a greater degree than other sectors.

Services and facilities being the main products of the tourism industry, taxation and other levies on consumer goods, especially luxury products, will be more beneficial to a country such as Bangladesh. Taxation on tourism services, especially on luxury products, will not greatly affect the general population, while on the other hand it will contribute a great deal to the national budget.

The development of infrastructure facilities is a prerequisite for a developing country. Tourism development provides these facilities. Furthermore, transportation facilities such as car or boat rental in the tourism industry add considerably to the national communication system. Specialisation in tourism transport facilities also improves the overall standard of transport services.

Attempts are being made to export non-traditional products such as handicrafts, souvenirs and other cottage industry products. Several organisations are also putting great effort into popularising and marketing these products abroad. Cottage industries are showing spontaneous growth in every village of Bangladesh and are playing a very important role in the national economy. But the most striking problem is improving the marketability of such products. Tourism obviously offers better marketing opportunities and better prices, thus encouraging production and the growth of small industries.

Recreation and holidaying help develop the mental health of people and improve work efficiency. In a labour-intensive economy such as Bangladesh, work efficiency is a vital factor in enhancing overall production. Tourism is an excellent way of achieving such benefits due to its very wide range of recreational activities.

With the development of tourism, the culture of Bangladesh will gain extensive international recognition. This, in turn, will result in greater domestic awareness, further development and a broader outlook. The archaeological sites in Bangladesh bear testimony to its glorious past. Temples and mosques, shrines, music and festivals could provide pleasure and knowledge to people from far and wide. The educational and moral values accruing from such cultural tourism will contribute extensively to socio-economic improvement of the country.

Tourism also offers wide regional and international linkages. As a result, more international and regional organisations are offering the country wider participation in tourism-related forums. Bangladesh with its limited financial resources depends much on foreign assistance. International cooperation and foreign assistance can be equally sought for development of tourism in Bangladesh.

The tourism industry is potentially a major source of foreign exchange, contributing considerably to a favourable balance of payments. In Bangladesh, however, there are many export products that earn foreign exchange, but in all cases it involves the physical transfer of goods. However, tourism is mostly a service industry, involving minimal physical transfer of goods and services. People from other countries visit Bangladesh, enjoy the facilities, spend foreign exchange and return home. Except for purchases of gift and souvenirs, there is very little to be physically transferred. This characteristic of the tourism industry is known as "invisible exports". For a country such as Bangladesh, which has little surplus for exports, this characteristic of tourism can play a vital role.

An official promotional tourism guide says: "Bangladesh is an exotic destination. It is a magical tapestry woven with the threads of hope, struggle and love. It has a host of tourist treasures to offer to the tourists. Bangladesh is a combination of verdant forests, riverine countryside, and long stretches of sun-bathed beaches, fearsome wilds, meandering rivers and venerable shrine". There are much more attracts like lakes, hills, tribal life, and archaeological remains, including historical moments, folklore, and religious and cultural heritage.

Development of tourism in Bangladesh.

Every year, the United Nations celebrates World Tourism Day on September 27. This year the theme of the day is "Tourism opens doors for women." The theme means that tourism is a sector of the economy that not only employs significant numbers of women, but also provides enormous opportunities for their advancement.

The United Nations Millennium Development Goals speaks of gender equality, which has been targeted to be achieved by the year of 2015. Economic emancipation of women through creating employment for them is one of the preconditions to be met to achieve gender equality by that time.

Tourism creates employment for both sexes. According to the World Tourism Organisation (WTO), the tourism industry accounts for 11% of total global employment. It is said that every twelve tourists create a new job. Unfortunately, tourism is one of the most neglected sectors in Bangladesh, though there is no lack of lip service on the part of the government.

In fact, government high-ups and policy makers have hazy as well as negative ideas about tourism. They firmly believe that to attract foreign tourists to Bangladesh, the country needs to have nightlife facilities, bars, massage parlours etc., as if these are the essence of tourism.

One of our ex-state ministers for tourism said in a seminar that tourists would come to Bangladesh if the price of alcoholic beverages could be brought down. One ex-finance minister of the country said in a meeting, "Tourist-ra kee Bangladeshe milad porte aibo?" (Will tourists come to Bangladesh to attend milad?) He was indicating the lack of western style nightlife in Bangladesh.

With this sort of idea, our government policy makers have set their minds on setting-up an exclusive tourist zone near Cox's Bazaar, with all nightlife facilities, where domestic tourists will not be allowed.

To change this mindset, our government policy makers need to know that at present the number of international eco-tourists is more than one hundred million; and they are not after the nightlife in the country, which they go to visit. These eco-tourists visit a country only to experience the nature, culture, and heritage of that country.

The number of eco-tourists in the world has been increasing by more than ten percent a year. Initially, Bangladesh may set its target to attract one million eco-tourists a year. To achieve that target, it will have to chalk out a down-to-earth tourism marketing strategy and go for aggressive marketing in countries, which produce most of the outbound tourists.

Only fifteen countries produce 80% of the total international outbound tourists. These countries are to be the focal points of our tourism marketing.

In 1998, Cambodia received ninety-six thousand tourists, in that year Bangladesh received one hundred fifty thousand tourists. In 2006, Cambodia received about two million tourists and Bangladesh, two hundred thousand. The only tourism product in Cambodia is its cultural heritage, and the Angkor Wat -- an 11th century temple. Cambodia earned $1 billion from tourism in 2006, while Bangladesh earned $89 million.

Last year, Malaysia received more than thirteen million tourists. A few days back, I had a talk with a lady from Uzbekistan. She did her Masters in tourism from Scotland, and spent three years in Malaysia, working there as a teacher.

I asked her how she would compare Bangladesh with Malaysia from the tourism perspective. She said: "What does Malaysia have except some beaches? But Bangladesh has so many tourism attractions." I don't know whether she was trying to make me happy, but I agree with her on the point that Bangladesh has so many world-class eco-tourism attractions.

Even our conception about the development of tourism in the country is not clear. We want to develop tourism in Bangladesh so that the country can earn foreign exchange from the tourists who will come to visit our country.

Nowadays different organisations often organise tourism fairs in Bangladesh, in which mainly outbound tour packages are sold. Sending tourists from Bangladesh to other countries cannot be treated as the development of tourism in our country.

These fairs are sellers' fairs in character from the perspective of Bangladesh because the foreign exhibitors or their counterparts in Bangladesh sell outbound tour packages, and only a few offer domestic tour packages. Instead of helping the country to earn foreign currency through tourism, the sellers' fairs help in depletion of the foreign exchange reserve of the country.

We need buyers' fairs, where foreign buyers (travel agents) will come to Bangladesh to get offers of tour packages, so that they may send tourists to our country. If we cannot arrange this type of fair, then it is better for our country that we refrain from organising sellers' fairs. With insignificant foreign exchange reserve, Bangladesh cannot have the luxury of encouraging its people to go for holidays outside the country.

Anybody has the legal right to organise a sellers' tourism fair; but they must not say that they are organising this sort of fair for the development of tourism in the country. Unfortunately, in the inaugural ceremony, the chief guest and special guest, who are usually from the government, as well as the organisers, speak of the development of tourism in Bangladesh, which sounds odd on such an occasion.

Let us be more practical about the development of tourism in the country; let us develop it in the true sense, so that it contributes valuable foreign exchange to our state coffer, and help to develop the economy of the country.

Ministry of Civil Aviation and Tourism

Ministry of Civil Aviation and Tourism was a ministry under central government before independence. After independence of Bangladesh in 1971 matters relating to communication and tourism were vested with the Ministry of Commerce.

  In 1972, Civil Aviation Division was created and brought under the Ministry of Shipping, Inland Water Transport and Civil Aviation. However, an independent Ministry of Civil Aviation and Tourism was created in August 1975. This again became a Division under the Ministry of Communication in January 1976. A separate Ministry of Civil Aviation and Tourism was created again in December 1977. On 24th March 1982 the ministry was abolished and Civil Aviation and tourism Division became a new Division under the Ministry of Defense. In 1986, Ministry of Civil Aviation and Tourism was re-established as a ministry and has been continuing as such since then.

Affiliated Organizations and Companies       

Civil Aviation Authority of Bangladesh (CAAB) is a public service enterprise and a regulatory body in the field of Air Navigation aiming at safe, regular and efficient operation of national and International Air Navigation in and over the entire territory of Bangladesh. 

Bangladesh is bestowed with the bounties of nature. Its captivating natural beauties    have provoked many travelers from far and near through ages. One of such travellers aptly observed "Bengal has hundred gates open for entrance, but not one for departure".  

Hotels International Limited, a Public Limited Company (PLC), 100% of its share is owned by the Government of the People's Republic of Bangladesh is the owning company of the Pan Pacific Sonargaon Hotel.

Bangladesh Services Limited (BSL) is a public limited company, formed on 16-06-1973 under Companies Act 1913 (amended in 1994). It may be mentioned that as abandoned property, all the assets and management.

RegTravelAgency.gov.bd is a website intended for Travel Agency Registration, update and renewal.

Eco-resort for sustainable tourism

A view of Panigram Resort in Jessore. The resort will bill itself as 'a taste of Bangladeshi village life'.

The term 'sustainable tourism' is a buzzword in the world of today's tourism. But only tourism that meets the needs of present tourists and hosts regions, while protecting and enhancing the area for future generations, is worthy of the term 'sustainable tourism'. Rather than being a type of product, it is an ethos that underpins all tourism activities. As such, it must be integrated into all aspects of tourism development and management, rather than being just an add-on component. 

 Should these visionary words inspire practical actions in Bangladesh? Yes indeed, as a sustainable tourism development highly benefits developing countries as well as destinations with a cultural or ecological vulnerable environment. In Bangladesh, examples of these vulnerable environments are the tribal cultures in Bandarban and the environmental balance in the Sundarbans.

As an initiator of the 'Views On Tourism Project', which encourages sustainable tourism in Bangladesh through online knowledge and network, I am excited to witness an emerging sustainable tourism in Bangladesh. There are many lessons to be learnt from these pioneers. One example is an upcoming Panigram eco-resort in Jessore, which I visited as part of a media trip to experience what responsible hospitality and high quality customer service could be in Bangladesh.

The journey started with a drive through the gorgeous, fertile countryside followed by a short boat trip on a quiet, picturesque river. There on the riverbank, at the intersection of two rivers, was the pavilion. We were greeted by two waiters, dressed in beautiful, traditional white panjabis, who offered us a variety of homemade drinks and lemon-scented towels to wash off the journey and refresh us. I took a deep, relaxing breath and started to take in all of my impressions -- would this upcoming resort be, in the true sense of the word, sustainable?

The full day programme at Panigram included a walking tour of the project site, a seven-course lunch at a beautifully decorated table with a river view, boat and rickshaw tours of the countryside, and an evening snack that we enjoyed from our hammocks while watching the sunset. The values of sustainability and excellent service were striking in even the smallest details. Panigram's developer, Kristin Boekhoff, presented all of us with gift baskets filled with items that highlighted some of the resort's sustainable aspects. Examples included:

A small pottery vase that was made in a nearby pottery village. Panigram hopes to work with the pottery village (which is just a fifteen-minute walk from the resort) to develop modern designs derived from village-style pottery that can be used in the restaurant and sold in the gift shop at fair trade prices.

An elaborate hand fan made from palm leaf. Beautiful, high quality fans in Bangladesh are slowly being replaced by the cheap, mass-produced, low-quality variety. Panigram is working with a pakha (a hand-made fan) village near the resort to revive this art that is slowly dying out.

 Fruits grown in the area. The resort will be built on sixty bighas (20 acres) of land. There will be extensive organic gardens where fruits and vegetables will be grown to be used in the restaurant. This will be supplemented with produce from the local farmers whom Panigram hopes to share their environmentally friendly organic farming techniques with.

The gift basket itself was made by a socially responsible craft company in Jessore that trains and employs impoverished rural women.

Panigram is currently under development; its anticipated opening is in mid-2011 and construction is expected to start in the spring. The resort will bill itself as “a taste of Bangladeshi village life” and managed both environmentally sustainable as well as socially responsible.

The architectural design will be done by award-winning Bangladeshi architect Marina Tabassum and built from mud and bamboo -- ancient, local building materials that are extremely sustainable. Alternative energy, composting, organic farming, and grey water recycling are just a few of the eco-friendly aspects of the resort.

The resort will obviously employ many of the local villagers, but just as important for the local employment rate is the cooperation with the community to develop ancillary businesses that will cater to the resort and the burgeoning tourist market it will create. It is the vision that the local community will offer activities that savvy tourists would enjoy -- like fishing with a local fisherman, taking a class in the pottery village, and boating on the river.

Along with other local tourism pioneers, Panigram is a sustainable best practice, which will hopefully inspire others and demonstrate that Bangladesh can have a tourism industry that is both sustainable and profitable.

Although Bangladesh is still in the nascent stages of developing an international tourism industry, responsible hospitality could be one solution to the many social and environmental challenges that the country is currently facing. Social and environmental sustainability would fit in much better with the local culture and environment than typical “big box” hotels with discotheques and casinos would.