Civil Aviation and Tourism Minister M Rashiduzzaman Millat today said work is underway on the Tourism Master Plan covering 1,498 attractions of different categories across the country.

“We are working on a Tourism Master Plan encompassing 1,498 tourist attractions,” he said while inaugurating the 13th Asian Tourism Fair 2026 in the capital.

Millat said the government aims to transform the country’s scattered tourism opportunities into a well-planned, sustainable and internationally competitive industry.

“Almost every part of Bangladesh has a story to tell,” he said, highlighting the Sundarbans, Cox’s Bazar sea beach, the hills and lakes of the Chattogram Hill Tracts, Sylhet’s tea gardens, rivers and wetlands, archaeological and religious heritage sites and the hospitality of the people.

The minister said the government is also planning to develop Cox’s Bazar into a regional tourism hub, adding that attracting international tourists is one of the main objectives of the newly constructed Cox’s Bazar International Airport.

He said the government’s new tourism policy would place strong emphasis on private investment and public-private partnerships.

Under the leadership of Prime Minister Tarique Rahman, Millat said, the government has placed tourism within its broader agenda for economic diversification, employment generation and balanced regional development.

The government wants to raise tourism’s contribution to the country’s gross domestic product (GDP) from the existing 2-3 percent to 8-9 percent, he added.

“The targets are ambitious, but achievable if the government, private sector and communities work together,” the minister said.

Terming tourism development both an administrative priority and a political commitment, he said the sector’s advancement was incorporated into the government’s 2026 election manifesto.
Millat called upon stakeholders to present innovative and cost-effective ideas for developing the sector, saying tourism cannot flourish without the joint commitment of the public and private sectors.

He also urged all concerned to work together to take Bangladesh’s tourism industry to global markets, assuring stakeholders of the ministry’s continued support.

Over 200 organisations from 10 countries are participating in the fair, showcasing destinations, tourism products, services and investment opportunities at around 300 stalls.

The minister described the fair as a platform for friendship, business, investment, cultural exchange and regional cooperation.

Representatives of diplomatic missions, tourism industry stakeholders, development partners, investors and media professionals attended the inaugural ceremony.