Tourism sector to boom as big projects underway

The government has taken a number of projects for the development of tourism sector in the country to attract more local and foreign tourists which will ultimately help the country to achieve the much-desired GDP growth.

According to an official document, the government is constructing a 'Tourism Building' in the city's Sher-e-Bangla Nagar area spending Tk 620 million.

It is also constructing 14 cottages, restaurants, walkways, lake and kids’ corners at a cost of Tk 620 million at Parky Beach in Chittagong.

The construction of hotel, restaurant, souvenir shop, walkways and parking lot is underway at Dudh Sagar in Barishal, while hotels, restaurants and other related facilities worth Tk 160 million will be built in Panchgar, the document shows.

Hotels and restaurants are being constructed at Nijhum Dwip and Hatia of Noakhali spending Tk 490 million, while a process is on to procure two water vessels.

The government has approved projects to construct tourism centres in Panchgar and Mahananda Sheikh Hasina Bridge areas of Chapainawabganj for Tk 220 million.

The government is conducting a feasibility study to build a world-class tourism establishment in Sundarbans area keeping its ecosystem intact for making the mangrove forest as one of the attractive tourist destinations for domestic and international tourists.

The capacity building of National Hotels Tourism Training Institute (NHTTI) is also in progress for Tk 140 million in addition to renovating Sonamosjid Tourism Motel.

Besides, the government is implementing some projects under Public Private Partnership (PPP) to expand the tourism sector.

The projects are: Development of tourism resort and entertainment village at Parjatan Holiday Complex in Cox's Bazar costing Tk 15 billion, Establishment of international standard tourism complex at the existing Motel Upal Compound of BPC in Cox's Bazar spending Tk 5 billion and Establishment of a 5-star hotel and others facilities at the existing Motel Sylhet Compound of BPC at Sylhet with Tk 1 billion.

The other projects under the PPP are: Establishment of an international standard hotel-cum-training centre on the existing BPC land at Muzgunni, Khulna at the cost of Tk 3.5 billion, establishment of a star standard hotel and other facilities at the existing Pashur hotel compound at Mongla, Bagerhat with Tk 1 billion.

Besides, a process to approve the construction of a five-star hotel at an eight-acre land of Motel Probal under the BPC at a cost of Tk 5.65 billion and establishment of a training centre and international standard hotel in Barishal spending Tk 1.5 billion is underway.

According to the document, another project has been taken to conduct a feasibility study for constructing tourism facilities in the hill tract areas of the country.

Steps have been taken to construct Sheikh Hasina Tower at Khurkushkul in Cox's Bazar, establishment of an exclusive tourist zone on 95 acres of land and Hotel Labonya at Laboni point of Cox's Bazar.

Yet another project is underway to introduce a sustainable climate resilient tourism system at Tanguar Haor in Sunamganj at a cost of Tk 10 million.

A senior official at the Civil Aviation and Tourism Ministry said both domestic and foreign tourists will get better facilities after the implementation of these projects.

The official, seeking anonymity, mentioned that the country earns over US$ 100 million from the tourism sector.
"Once implemented, these projects will help Bangladesh earn much more," he said.