Development of Tourism Industry and Infrastructures in Bangladesh

SYED AHSANUL ALAM

Associate Professor
Department of Marketing, University of Chittagong
Chittagong, Bangladesh.

MOHAMMAD SHAMSUDDOHA
Assistant Professor
Department of Marketing, University of Chittagong
Chittagong, Bangladesh.
E- mail: mdsdoha@gmail.com
Abstract:
Bangladesh is a vacationland and it has many facets for local and foreign tourist. Her tourist
attractions include archeological sites, historic mosques and monuments, resorts, beaches,
picnic spots, forest and wildlife. Bangladesh is a riverine country having attractive panoramic
beauty. There are hills, vales, deep and mangrove forests, rivers and the longest beach in the
world. In this country, the scope of nature based tourism, research based tourism, culture based
tourism and eco-tourism is quite evident. In Bangladesh, prospective areas are present,
minimum infra-structural arrangement is developing, role of government is now positive, private
and public organizations have come forward side by side to attract the local and foreign tourists,
researchers, dignitaries and foreign delegates. Having all the minimum requirements, the
tourism industry could not develop adequately. The cracks of problem could not identify
accurately because of paucity of sufficient number of research and investigations in our country.
Out of different problems, the researchers have concentrated their focus to human resource
development aspect for tourism sector in Bangladesh. It is due to low literacy rate of general
people, they cannot communicate with the domestic and foreign tourists significantly. So, the
tourists felt discourage to visit repeatedly to the tourist spots. It is not possible to increase
literacy rate dramatically to develop communicative skill of mass people. The researchers feel
that a group of personnel could be developed on an emergency basis to face the immense need of
the tourism industry in Bangladesh. Presently, specialized formal education like bachelor’s
degree, under graduate degree or postgraduate degrees are not available in universities of
Bangladesh on tourism. No specialized training program is being found to develop skilled
personnel in this regard. In some International Hotels, Parjatan Corporation and at private level
tourist agencies very limited scope of on the job training has been developed. This study will
facilitate the decision makers to assess the intensity of the problem and to plan accurate
measures to train and develop a good number of manpower for facing the current need readily.
This could benefit the tourism industry in multiple ways. This could change the economic picture
of tourism sector and contribute a big share in the GDP of Bangladesh.

Keywo rds: Tourism, Development, Marketing

Introduction
During the post-Second World War era, tourism demand has rapidly increased and tourism has
become a worldwide phenomenon. Not surprisingly, this post-war boom has drawn the attention
of many developing countries, and tourism as one of the growing industries of the world
economy has enticed many entrepreneurs and governments of various countries to invest in the
tourism industry without proper planning and preparation (Cevat Tosun and Dallen J. Timothy,
2001). Tourism is not associated with aristocracy. Today even ordinary persons can afford. With the
passage of time, the tourism has become almost a part of our normal life. In the background of its
growing popularity, tourism has become a mass phenomenon. It has grown to such dimensions that
we consider it an important industry. The promotion of tourism as an industry serves multi-pronged
interest, e.g. protecting our arts and culture, preserving our cultural heritage, interaction of different
religion, excha nge of views, and generation of foreign exchange and so on. It is against this
background that albeit global tourism organizations like World Tourism Organization. Pacific Area
Travel Association. International Union of Official Travel Organization etc. ha ve been active in
developing tourism as an industry. Particularly for the developing countries, the tourism industry is
considered as a bonanza. The conceptual exposition appears essential to study other dimensions of
tourism marketing. The marketing experts opine that tourism marketing is the systemic and
coordinated efforts to optimize the satisfaction of tourism. The tourism marketing is also supposed
to be a device to make a possible reorientation in the business policy and overhaul in the
management concept. Generally speaking, tourism planning has been defined as a process based
on research and evaluation, which seeks to optimize the potential contribution of tourism to
human welfare and environmental quality (Tosun and Jenkins, 1998). Thus, tourism planning
should relate tourism development to the more equitable distribution of wealth that is one of the
main aims of national development planning. In this respect, tourism planning is a component of
national development planning and strategy. Moreover, ti includes a decision- making process
between the tourism industry and other sectors of the economy, between various sub- national
areas and between types of tourism. It requires the integration of the tourism industry into other
sectors such as agriculture, industry, transportation and social services (Timothy, 1999). In view
of the aforesaid facts it is right to mention that tourism marketing is an integrated effort to satisfy
tourists by making available to them the best possible services. It is a device to transform the
potential tourists into actual tourists. It is the safest way to generate demand and expand market.
Further, it is an effort to make possible harmony between the social interests and interests of tourist
organizations. It is an approach to promote business, which feeds the organizations the necessary
information for farming or revamping the marketing decisions. The tourisms marketing is thus
promotion or sales based on research on what are to be sold in the market. Dependence on laurels is
not possible in the tourism marketing since the taste preferences of users change very firstly.

Rationale of the study

Bangladesh is trying to develop her tourism status to compete in local and global market.
Tourism is one of the main roots of developing the country’s economy and as well as skilled
professional human resource. Governmental and non-Governmental institutes can keep such a
vital role by giving emphasis on tourism marketing. Bangladesh needs to develop its human
resources for improving tourism marketing in local tourists as well as foreign tourist.. In
Bangladesh, tourism has lot of potentiality to earn more revenue than presently what they are
earning. If Govt. and Non-government organization come forward and take the responsibility for
developing tourism industry, it will earn much more revenue and create lots of employment as
well. There has no plethora research work on tourism in Bangladesh perspectives. This research
will add some value and fill up the gap that motivated the authors to undertake such a study

Objectives of the study

In the light of development of tourism industry in Bangladesh particularly, the main objectives of
the study are-
1. To find out the present status of tourism industry in Bangladesh.
2. To explore the potential tourist spot in Bangladesh.
3. To give some recommendation for the development of tourist industry in Bangladesh.

Scope and Methodologies of the study

The study covered various Government and non- government who are acting vital role in
developing tourism industry Situated mainly capital Dhaka and commercial capital city
Chittagong in Bangladesh. The sample comprised of more than ten Governmental and non-
governmental institutes those who are working with the tourism in Bangladesh. Necessary
information and data were collected from sample respondents through the direct interview
method by using structured questionnaire. In addition, review all the tourism related websites for
updated information. In total 50 respondents were interviewed during the study period. In the
other hand, the researcher also reviews several foreign and local research works as well in this
field.

Limitations of the study

The study covered very limited number of sample organization in respect of its real scope all
over the country. There is no plethora of research work in this field. Sometimes responded were
not interested to express to their honest opinion. To overcome these limitations, an intensive
study of existing literature in this field, foreign journal, relevant publication by Governme nt and
other private agencies were studied. This is fully self- financed research work that is why the
researcher could not able to cover wider area.

Analysis of Findings
The conceptual exposition appears essential to study tourism marketing. The marketing experts
opine that tourism marketing is the systemic and coordinated efforts to optimize the satisfaction
of tourism .The thing here are concerned with making available to the tourist organizations. The
tourism marketing is also supposed to be a device to make a possible reorientation in the
business policy and overhaul in the management concept. Tourism marketing is an integrated
effort to satisfy tourists by making available to them the best possible services. It is a device to
transform the potential tourists into actual tourists. It is the safest way to generate demand and
expand market. Further it is an effort to make possible harmony between the social interests and
interests of tourist organizations. It is an approach to promote business, which feeds the
organizations the necessary information for farming or revamping the marketing decisions. The
tourisms marketing is thus promotion or sales based on research on what are to be sold in the
market. Dependence on laurels is not possible in the tourism marketing since the taste
preferences of users change very firstly in Bangladesh.

The users of Tourism Services

There are several users of tourist like rural tourists, urban tourists and international tourists. For
the successful execution of marketing strategies for translating the strategies in to meaningful
purposes, it is essential to have a detailed knowledge of users of services. Tourists coming from
the rural areas are rural tourists whereas the tourists coming from urban areas are urban tourists.

The users

Domestic Foreign

Rural
Urban

Literate Illiterate
Literate Illiterate
Rich / Poor
Rich / Poor
or
[Source: BPC Officials]

Classification of Tourists
According to a sample survey, the tourists’ arrivals are classified in the following categories:
A. Business  42%
17%
B. Pleasure  23% 18% Business
C. Official  18% Pleasure
Official
D. Others  17% 42% Others
23%
Figure: Shows the Arrival of Tourists

[Source: Bangladesh Parjatan Corporation]

Institutional Framework

The National Tourism Organization

The principal channel of Government involvement in the tourism sector is the national tourism
organization, Bangladesh Parjatan Corporation, (BPC or Parjatan), which is a semi autonomous
government agency reporting to the Ministry of civil Aviation and Tourism as its administrative
Ministry. Importantly, the national airline Biman Bangladesh Airlines, (Biman), forms a separate
division within the same Ministry, which allows integration and of tourism initiatives. Many of
BPC’s managerial matters are handle through the national Tourism Facilitation committee
headed by the secretary of the ministry of Aviation and Tourism. A sub-committee of the
National committee is responsible for coordination of efforts to promote tourism in the country.
The sub-committee is comprised of the following members: Biman (Convener); Chairman,
Bangladesh Parjatan Corporation; Joint secretary of the Ministry of Aviation and Tourism;
Sonargaon Hotel; Sheraton Hotel; Association of Travel Agent of Bangladesh; Pacific Area
Travel Association; Secretary Bangladesh Services Ltd; Flying club of Bangladesh (co-opted).
BPC was created on the 27th November 1972 by order of the Government of the People’s
Republic of Bangladesh and commenced business in January 1973. It was established as a
Corporation under the laws of the country with an authorized capital of Tk one crore (roughly
US$ 1.3 million then) and initial share capital of Tk five lakhs (roughly US$ 65,000 then). Under
the law, additional loan or equity capital could be raised for carrying out the functions of the
Corporation with gove rnment approval. It was evidently the intention of the drafters of the Order
that BPC should be an autonomous corporation responsible to its shareholders as would be any
other corporate entity in the country. Specifically, the Order directed that the assets and liabilities
of a preceding company, Pakistan Tourism Development Corporation Limited, would be
transferred to BPC. The Government clearly intended to distance itself from the operations of
BPC and not be a major investor. The Corporation was given broad power and authority and
important some power as follows

1. To promote tourist undertakings and to control and regulate tourist installations and
services;
2. To project the image of Bangladesh abroad for the purpose of attracting tourists by
publicizing the history and culture of the country;
3. To organize reception and information facilities in or outside Bangladesh;
4. To encourage and develop domestic tourism;
5. To enter tourism agreement with foreign countries with the previous approval of the
Government;
6. To conduct and carry out research on various aspects of tourism;
7. To publish literature on tourism;
 8. To establish institutes or make other arrangements for instruction and training of persons
engaged, or likely to be engaged, in any activity connected with, or ancillary to, tourism;
9. To acquire, hold or dispose of any property whether movable or immovable;
10. To invest its moneys and funds and to vary the investments as and when it may seem
necessary or proper;
11. To do all other things connected with or ancillary to any of the matters referred to in the
foregoing sub-clauses;
12. To carry out any other functions as may be prescribed.
[Source: President’s Order No 143 of 1972 as published in the Bangladesh Gazette
Extraordinary, 27th November 1972.]

Since 1973 BPC has engaged in a number of the activities specifically mentioned in the
Government Order including the construction of hotels, a training school, establishment of a car
rental system, organization of sight seeing tours and the establishment of duty free shops at the
international airport and on other premises.

Government Investment in Tourism

Despite the low priority given by the Government to tourism at a national level there have been
some important investments in both Parjatan and Biman.

(A) Government investment in BPC

The audited, consolidated balance sheet of the Corporation as at 30 June 1984 (the latest
available at the time of preparation of the master plan report) shows total government investment
of over Tk 20 crore. That amount, equivalent to us$ 6.7 million was composed of fully paid
capital of Tk 345 lakhs (us$ 1.15 million), grants Tk 281 lakhs (us$ 0.93 million), and loans Tk
14.4 crore (us$ 4.82 million). Of the total investment at the balance sheet date, net assets account
for Tk 13.9 crore (us$ 4.62 million) and operating losses (including depreciation) for Tk 9.2
crore (us$ 3.07 million). The operating losses occurred in the years from 1972 to 1983 and have
been partially offset by profits since then.
(B) Government investment in Biman Bangladesh airlines
The government as sole stockholder in Biman was not primarily making an investment in
tourism but in an airline with potential to become an important contributor tourist flows.
Substantial levels of investment have taken place both in Biman and in the rehabilitation and
development of domestic airports. In TFYP, for example an allocation is made to Biman of Tk
140 crore (us$ 47 million), and to domestic airport development to Tk 70 crore (us$ 23 million),
for improvements at Sylhet and Chittagong and for further capital works at Zia international
Airport in Dhaka. Such investments are supportive to tourism development aspirations
particularly those investments in the national carrier although clearly the investments have wider
implications tha n for tourism alone. The importance of Government investment in hotels and
airlines is in providing seed money to start an activity initially beyond the capability of the
private sector in an impoverished country and in providing a model and encouragement to
private investors.

(C) Private Investment in Tourism

A range of concessionary investment incentives are offered to the private sector in tourism
activities, in line with other special capital depreciation regulations, etc. In addition, the tourism
sector receives significant loan finance from the commercial banks. Although the availability of
foreign exchange is restricted. The starting date for the period of income tax exemption for
companies in the tourism sector has been extended to June 1990. The period of exemption varies
with the district in which the activity is arrived on and portions of the profits must be reinvested
in the activity or in government bonds. Recent private sector investment initiatives appear
limited to Dhaka, however. The primary reasons for this would appear to be demand deficiency
rather than any institutional constraints. One of the examples of private investment in tourism is
Fantasy Kingdom.

Fantasy Kingdom:
Thirty kilometers off the Dhaka city on the way to Savar and about five kilometers off the Zia
International Airport, the theme park Fantasy Kingdom owned by Concord group was formally
opened on Feb.19.2002. By this time, it has gained popularity both from the kids and adults.
Fantancy kingdom now offers 1500 feet long roller coaster, a big flume ride, santaramaria
Viking ship, arabian flying carpet, race horses, crazy bumps, a big video game arcade etc.

Manpower Development and Training

It has been recognized by BPC that the Corporation is short of professional staff in its hotel
operations division particularly and that the development of tourism in Bangladesh will require
training of management cadres. These cadres would be in a position to carry forward vocational
t4raining programs for hotel and other sector workers once the basic needs have been met
through a number of specially structured programs designed to remedy the current lack of trained
workers for many work positions. In order to establish and develop a professional training
program within the tourism industry in Bangladesh, BPC established the Hotel and Tourism
Training Institute (HTTI), which was jointly funded in 1978 by the Government of Bangladesh
and the United Nations Development Program (UNDP) with the International Labor
Organization (ILO) as executing agency. The first phase of the project finished in 1983 and the
second phase commenced in February 1986. The Tourism Training Institute is operated under
the auspices of BPC in Mohakhali, Dhaka. In the same building is a fully operational BPC Hotel.
The Institute and the hotel are housed in purpose-built facilities having, in addition to 20
bedrooms and usual hotel facilities, classroom areas, a training restaurant, training and
demonstration kitchens, a front office reception area, a conference room, offices and
administrative areas. It is intended during the second phase program to expand and up- grade
HTTI to provide, inter alias, a langrage laboratory, a travel agency, a library/documentation unit,
a demonstration laundry, a bakery/patisserie training unit with a retail outlet and a small video
studio. There will also be a mobile catering van for outside catering and a 26-seater coaster for
the transport of trainees on study visits. The ILO, besides helping the Government to develop the
hospitality industry, is also helping to develop human resources by providing in-depth training
programs. The full-time courses, supervised by international experts and consultants, cover the
following specializations:
Ø Hotel and Restaurant Kitchen Training
Ø Restaurant Service
Ø Front Office and Secretarial
Ø Bakery, Pastry and Confectionery
 Ø Housekeeping Operations
Ø Tourist Guides
Ø Tour Operation and Travel Agencies.

There will also be part-time of day-release courses in various aspects of the industry, according
to identified needs, such as:
Ø Hygiene and Sanitation for Food Handlers
Ø Short on-the-job Instructor Training Courses
Ø Communications and Social Skills
Ø Short courses in different aspects of catering for non-professionals.
Eventually, there will be developed a diploma course in Hotel and Catering Operations for
management trainees. The current program is technical and vocational in nature and is designed
to meet the more immediate needs for tourism development. A serious difficulty is the low level
of foreign langrage skills of rank and file employees that make the inclusion of the proposed
language laboratory a desirable priority. Other UNDP projects for tourism sector training will
also be of assistance to Bangladesh in meeting its training needs. One project for training in
tourism planning for South Asia has resulted in conclusions and recommendations that include:
Ø One-year scholarships, to be given for overseas training at university graduate level.
Ø The development of a series of three six-week regional training courses.
The courses would cover a variety of topics including statistical data collection, techniques and
principles of detailed planning of resorts, and standards of control of environmental and social
impact.
A program for regional cooperation in tourism training that is planned for 1988 would cover a
number of conceptual matters as well as specialized training. Among the topics slated for
attention are:
Ø Multi destination holiday packaging
Ø Development of market identity
Ø Creation of job titles for sector personnel to replace the currently used civil service names
Ø Improvement of staff attitudes and capability through encounter and transactional
analysis courses
Ø Budgetary and financial management including hotel accounting
 Ø Tour operator and ground handling courses.
Ø Clearly all of the recommendations address topics that are important for Bangladesh,
whose tourism development is closely allied with other countries in South Asia and South
East Asia.
The master plan study team observed a number of weaknesses in current practices that should
also be considered in the context of training program. A good knowledge of foreign languages
does not extend very far down the hotel hierarchy. Training programs of a forceful nature are
required to remove inhibitions and give adequate practice in actually speaking foreign languages.
No attention is given to sales promotion in restaurants when an extra sale might be made. In art
this may be a consequence of the limited number of items actually available out of the menu list.
On the other hand, restaurant employees have been well trainee in accounting for the sales they
actually make. Because of the service charge system, there is a correlation between the two
objectives. Similarly, restaurant employees in particular tend not to be as attentive as they might,
again missing potential for extra sales as well as failing in their duties. It is notable that the two
international hotels in Dhaka have been most successful in their employee training programs and
their cooperation with the HTTI programs should be most helpful. The international hotels are
also a potential source of well-trained middle and upper management personnel for new
operations. The basic and long-term training needs are met in principle by the current and
proposed programs. With will and commitment, they should be successful.

Tour Programs taken by Bangladesh Parjatan Corporation

The tours division BPC has developed programs for 12 tours designed to permit tourists to the
most interesting parts of the country a range of attractive leaflets is provided. The tours are also
built into offerings of Biman, the national airlines, which includes them on packages originating
in certain European and other cities served by the airlines.
Parjatan Offers
Tour
Title Itinerary Duration
no.
1 Dhaka Stopover Dhaka City Tour 2-days 1 night
2 -do- Dhaka City tour with River Cruise 3-days-2night
3 Paddle-steamer tour Dhaka-Khulna-Dhaka 4-days-3 night
4 Nature & tea Dhaka-Srimongal-Sylhet-Dhaka 5-days-4 night
 Orientation Tour
5 Tribal culture Tour Dhaka-Ctg-Rangamati- Dhaka 4-days-3-nights
6 Beach Holidy Tour Dhaka-Ctg-Cox’s Bazar-Dhaka 5-days-4-nights
7 Beach Island Tour Dhaka-Patuakhali-Kuakata-Dhaka 6-days-4-nights
Nature&WildLlfe Dhaka-Jessor-Mongla-Sundarban-
8 5-days-4-nights
Tour Dhaka
History & Dhaka-Rangpur-Dinajpur-Bogra-
9 5-days-4-nights
Archaeological Tour Dhaka
Discover Dhaka-Srimangal-Ctg-Cox’s Bazar-
10 8-days-7-nights
Bangladesh-1 Dhaka
Discover Dhaka-Jessor-Mongla-Sunderban-
11 8-days-7-nights
Bangladesh-2 Dhaka-Rnagamati-Dhaka
Dahka-Srimongal-Ctg-Cox’s Bazar-
Destination 14-days-13
12 Rangamati-Dhaka-Mongla-Sunderban
Bangladesh nights
-Dhaka
Sources: Website of Parjatan Corporation of Bangladesh

Objectives of Tourism Development

Tourism, as the worldwide initiator of movements of people and exchange of cultures, has
become the world’s single largest industry. It has matured, provides the livelihood for many
millions, foments good will between nations, provides a display case for a nation’s products and
stimulates creative and enjoyable activity. As the world is increasingly able to produce the food
and other physical needs for its population with fewer and fewer workers, jobs are being lost.
Others, however, are gained in the service sector and a higher standard of living is achieved for
all. The benefits, at first observed in the more developed lands, are distributed as citizens seek
new experiences and travel to ne w destinations, spending money, providing employment and
enjoying a change in living from their normal lives. From being once a neglected sector, tourism
now has the attention of national, regional and municipal governments throughout the world,
who seek to participate in the flow of resources, increase their market share and earn the respect
of their counterparts. The study of tourism has become a science spearheaded by the world
Tourism Organization that collects and interprets data and advises government’s as to how they
may share in the benefits of tourism’s growth and potential. A recent study completed by the
WTO in 1986 – an Economic review of world Tourism – shows that in the developed countries
of the world, two thirds of the workforce now work in the service sector and as many as 25 per
cent of those workers are in tourism related jobs. Spain, with an estimated 25.9 per cent of
service sector employees working in tourism related jobs come first followed by the united States
of America with 25.1 per cent. Comparative data for the lesser developed countries of the world
show that a lower percentage are employed in the survive sector and tourism related activities.
Much of the tourism sector employment in the developed countries is attributable to domestic
movements of people. It is estimated by the WTO that nine out of ten movements took place
within national boundaries and only ten per cent of movements were across national borders.
International tourist movements estimated to be 300 million in 1984 imply domestic movements
of almost 3,000 million. Although data collection of domestic movements is less certain than
international movements, WTO conjectures that domestic travel is increasing at least at the same
rate as international tourism which was estimated to have increased by two per cent in 1984 over
the 1983 figure rate expected to increase over the next few years. Many factors affect such
expectations. Both discretionary and non-discretionary tourist movements depend on economic
and political cond itions for their growth as well as the actual pleasure and other rewards
experienced in travel itself that encourage further exploration. Population growth and
demographic changes in age groupings affect both volume and the experiences hoped for while
the absorptive capacity of some destinations may also change, giving new opportunities to
others. Taking the many variables into account, the WTO projects that international travel will
continue to grow through the remainder of the decade of the 80’s and that the South Asia region
will be a substantial beneficiary of the trend with a projected annual growth rate of seven per
cent. The rate is based on the growing pace of industrialization and urbanization that will give
impetus to travel weather the reason is business, family, duty or pleasure. Thus, circumstances
are seen by WTO to be favorable for growth particularly in the regional international that will
benefit Bangladesh. Such growth is the prime requisite that will permit the major objectives of
tourism to be realized.

The aims and perceived benefits of tourism for Bangladesh are specific. They are:
Ø To improve the balance of payments and to reverse negative flow in the tourism sector;
Ø To provide employment;
Ø To capitalize on the investment already made in airports, the nationals airline, in transport
and accommodation;
Ø To enhance the image of the country in the eyes of the world;
Ø To reinforce and protect the culture of the country;
 Ø To expose its people to world movements, the stimulation provided by other cultures and
enhances their employment potential abroad;
Ø To enable its people to share in the enjoyment of facilities and amenities that would be
created for international tourism purposes and that would provide a base for growth in
domestic tourism.

Explore the Place of Tourist attraction

There are so many places which is enriching for tourism. The researcher mentioned some of as
follows:-

Chittagong : Chittagong, the second largest city of Bangladesh and a busy international seaport,
is an ideal vacation spot. Its green hills and forests, its broad sandy beaches and its fine cool
climate always attract the holiday- markers. Described by the Chinese traveler poet, Huen Tsang
(7th century A. D) as "a sleeping beauty emerging from mists and water" and given the title of
"Porto Grande" by the 16th century Portuguese seafarers. Chittagong remains true to both the
descriptions even today. It combines remains true to both the descriptions even today. It
combines the busy hum of an active seaport with the shooting quiet of a charming hill town.
Besides, the longest sea-beach, Cox's Bazar and its adjoing areas have a lot of things to see and
places deserve visit by the tourists are Tomb of Sultan Baya zid Bostami, World War II Cemetery
, Shrine of Shah Amanat, Court Building Museum, Foy's Lake (Pahartali Lake), Mercantile
Marine Academy at Juldia, Patenga and Fouzdarhat Sea Beaches, Port Area, Ethnological
Museum, Zia Museum, Sitakunda, Kaptai lake, Other places of interest in the Hill Tract districts
include Chandraghona, Khagrachari and Bandarban etc.

Cox's Bazar: Cox's Bazar beach Miles of golden sands, towering cliffs, surfing waves, rare
conch shells, colorful pagodas, Buddhist temples and tribes, delightful sea-food--this is Cox's
Bazar, the tourist capital of Bangladesh. Having the world's longest (120 kilometers.) beach
sloping gently down to the blue waters of the Bay of Bengal, Cox's Bazar is one of the most
attractive tourist sport in the country. Located at a distance of 152 km. south of Chittagong, the
leading seaport of Bangladesh, Cox's Bazar is connected both by air and road from Dhaka and
Chittagong. Besides, the longest sea-beach, Cox's Bazar and its adjoing areas have a lot of things
to see and places deserve visit by the tourists like The Aggameda Khyang, Cox's Bazar,
Himchari, Inani, Maheshkhali, Ramu,Sonadia Island, Teknaf etc.

Dhaka: The capital of Bangladesh is Dhaka with its exciting history and rich culture Known the
world over as the city of mosques and muslin. It has attracted travellers from far and near
through ages. It has history dating back to earliest time. Seven domed Mosque (17th century),
Baitul Mukarram National Mosque, Star Mosque (18th century), Dhakeshwari Temple (llth
Century), Ramkrishna Mission, Armenian Church (1781 A.D.) St.Mary's Cathedral at Ramna,
Lalbagh Fort, It was built in 1678 A.D. by Prince Mohammad Azam, son of Mughal emperor
Aurangazeb, National Memorial, Bahadur Shah Park, Bangabandhu Memorial Museum, Mukti
Juddha Museum, National Museum, Science Museum, Ahsan Manzil Museum, Banga Bhaban,
Bara Katra, Chota Katra, National Art Gallery, Suhrawardy Uddyan (Garden), Balda Garden,
Ramna Garden, National Park, Zoological Park, Curzon Hall, Botanical Park, High Court
Building, Dhaka Zoo, Central Shahid Minar, National Poet's Graveyard, Buddhist monastery,
Sonargaon etc.

Dinajpur: The northern most district of the country, offers a number of attractions to the
visitors. The Ramsagar (great sea) lake with rest-houses is a good picnic spot having facilities for
fishing and rowing in a serene and quiet green countryside atmosphere.

Khulna: Gateway to the Sundarbans abode of the Royal Bengal Tigers Khulna is an industrial
town and Divisional Headquarter. The Mongla Seaport is closeby.Some of the biggest Jute mills
in the country are located here. Khulna is connected with Dhaka by road and boat and by air via
Jessore. Accommodation and eating facilities are available

Kuakata: Kuakata, locally known as Sagar Kannya (Daughter of the Sea) is a rare scenic beauty
spot on the southernmost tip of Bangladesh. Kuakata in Latachapli union under Kalapara Police
Station of Patuakhali district is about 30 km in length and 6 km in breadth. It is 70 km from
Patuakhali district headquarters and 320 km from Dhaka. At Kuakata excellent combination of
the picturesque natural beauty, sandy beach, blue sky, huge expanse of water of the Bay and
evergreen forest in really eye-catching.
Rangamati : From Chittagong a 77 km road amidst green fields and winding hills will take you
to Rangamati, the headquarter of Rangamati Hill District which is a wonderful repository of
scenic splendours with flora and fauna of varied descriptions. The ownship is located on the
western bank of the Kaptai lake. Rangamati is a favourite holiday resort because of its beautiful
landscape, scenic beauty, lake, colourful tribes (Chakma, Marma etc)., its flora and fauna, tribal
museum, hanging bridge, homespun textile products, ivory jewellery and the tribal men and
women who fashion them. For tourists the attractions of Rangamati are numerous, tribal life,
fishing, speed boat cruising, water skiing, hiking, bathing or merely enjoying nature as it is.
Some of the Offers: Bangladesh Parjatan Corporation provides suitable hotel and cottage
accommodation, catering, speed boat, paddle boat and other facilities at Rangamati.

Rajshahi : Rajshahi has seen the most glorious period of Bengal's Paul dyunasty. It is famous
for pure silk, mango and lichi. Attractive silk products are cheaper. A visit to Varendra Research
Museum at the heart of the city of rich archaeological finds would be most rewarding. There are
also a number of ancient mosques, shrines and temples in and around Rajshahi. Connected with
Dhaka by road, rail, river and air, Rajshahi is located on the bank of the Padma river.

Sundarban : In the south-western part of Bangladesh, in the district of greater Khulna, lies the
Sundarbans, the beautiful forest. It is a virgin forest which until recently owed nothing to human
endeavour and yet nature has laid it out with as much care as a planned pleasure ground. For
miles and miles, the lofty treetops form an unbroken canopy, while nearer the ground, works of
high and ebb-tide marked on the soil and tree trunks and the many varieties of the natural
mangrove forest have much to offer to an inquisitive visitor. Here land and water meet in many
novel fashions, Wildlife presents many a spectacle. No wonder, you may come across a Royal
Bengal Tiger swimming across the streams or the crocodiles basking on the river banks. With the
approach of the evening herds of deer make for the darking glades where boisterous monkeys
shower Keora leaves from above for sumptuous meal for the former. For the botanist, the lover
of nature, the poet and the painter this land provides a variety of wonder for which they all crave.
Sylhet : Nestled in the picturesque Surma valley amidst scenic tea plantations and lush green
tropical forests, it is a prime attraction for all tourists. Its terraced tea gardens, eye soothing
orange groves and pineapple plantations and hills covered with tropical forests form a beautiful
landscape. The Sylhet vally has a good number of haors, which are big natural wetlands. During
winter these haors are vast stretches of green land but in the rainy season they turn into turbulent
seas. These haors provide sanctuary to the millions of migratory birds that fly from Siberia
across the Himalayas to avoid the severe cold. Srimongal in Sylhet, known as the tea capital of
Bangladesh, is the main tea center in this region. Visit in the vast tea garden spread like green
carpet over the plain land or slope of the hill is a memorable experience. A stay in one of the rest
house of the tea garden is a fascinating one.

Bogra: This small district town serves as the nerve-centre of northern Bangladesh and is fast
coming up as an industrial zone. It provides several road links with other district towns and
historical sites in the the region besides being itself well connected with Dhaka. Some of the
largest coal and lime deposits have been discovered in this district and ambitious plans have been
made for their utilization. The district already has a number of sugar, textile and chemical
industries. The handloom products of the area are popular throughout the country. Bogra is also
popular for its rice, sweets and yogurt

Besides that there are several place which might be treat as a tourist spot like Natore, Mainamati,
Paharpur etc.

Recommendation
There are so many problems, the researcher found regarding tourism in Bangladesh. The
customers of tourism market are price sensitive and want security in tourist place. To expand the
market it is necessary to set competit ive price.

¦ Develop the management education on tourism Marketing and prepare marketing or sales
people to sell the product properly to the right place in local and global perspectives as well.
¦ In order to strengthen the marketing department, a person should be appointed to look after
policy matters and new brand exclusively while the responsibility of that division should be in
the hand of the marketing Director.
¦ Bangladesh Parjatan Corporation should create pressure on Govt. to implement her policy
more strictly regarding the quality of service. As a result private service provider will be able to
face competition on an even ground.
¦ To deliver information to the foreign tourist through online or website and Information
Technology is necessary to research about new tourist spot.
¦ To encourage the Jr. executives they should be promoted to his/her position and new
executives should be recruited to ensure.
¦ Training and other refresher courses should be conducted at regular intervals to up date the
personnel with efficient.
¦ BPC should formulate her strategy in such to way by which she can serve the users more
effectively. BPC can easily utilize the following distribution channel.
¦ Private sector in this field should be encouraged by the BPC and as well as Government
officials.

Final comments
Bangladesh is one of the third world country having scarcity of his finance but they can increase
their GDP through by giving stress to the tourism industry. From overall point of view,
Bangladesh Parjatan Corporation is a only one government tourism service provider firm in
Bangladesh, which practices modern marketing concept. But in some sector they are lagging
behind. There has a lot of opportunities to earn foreign and local revenue from this sector but this
sector is totally ignored. The researcher has put forward some recommendation. If BPC follows
these recommendations, in the long run, BPC will become revenue generating organization
Bangladesh has a lot of potential tourist spots but it should do find out the exposure. Otherwise,
she cannot cash from this potential sector. And private sector should encouraged by the
government to work together for the sake of the development of tourism industry in Bangladesh.
References
1. Cevat Tosun and Dallen J. Timothy, International Journal of Contemporary Hospitality
Management 13/7 [2001] Page. 352.
2. Marketing Management, Philip Kotler, 9th Edition.
3. President’s Order No 143 of 1972 as published in the Bangladesh Gazette Extraordinary,
27th November 1972.
4. Principles of Marketing, Philip Kotler & Gray Armstrong, 7th Edition
5. Timothy, D. (1998), ``Cooperative tourism planning in a developing destination’’,
Journal of Sustainable Tourism, Vol. 6 No. 1, pp. 52-68.
6. Tosun, C. and Jenkins, C.L. (1998), ``The evolution of tourism planning in third world
countries: a critique’’, Progress in Tourism and Hospitality Research, Vol. 4 No. 2, pp.
101-14.
7. Website of Bangladesh Parjatan Corporation; www.bangladeshtourism.gov.bd
8. Website of UNDP, WTO, ILO
9. www.bangladeshonline.com
10. www.bangladeshonline.com/tourism/spots
11. www.tourismindiaonline.com