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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cWe are working on a Tourism Master Plan encompassing 1,498 tourist attractions,\u201d he said while inaugurating the 13th Asian Tourism Fair 2026 in the capital.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Millat said the government aims to transform the country\u2019s scattered tourism opportunities into a well-planned, sustainable and internationally competitive industry.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cAlmost every part of Bangladesh has a story to tell,\u201d he said, highlighting the Sundarbans, Cox\u2019s Bazar sea beach, the hills and lakes of the Chattogram Hill Tracts, Sylhet\u2019s tea gardens, rivers and wetlands, archaeological and religious heritage sites and the hospitality of the people.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The minister said the government is also planning to develop Cox\u2019s Bazar into a regional tourism hub, adding that attracting international tourists is one of the main objectives of the newly constructed Cox\u2019s Bazar International Airport.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
He said the government\u2019s new tourism policy would place strong emphasis on private investment and public-private partnerships.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The government wants to raise tourism\u2019s contribution to the country\u2019s gross domestic product (GDP) from the existing 2-3 percent to 8-9 percent, he added.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cThe targets are ambitious, but achievable if the government, private sector and communities work together,\u201d the minister said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Terming tourism development both an administrative priority and a political commitment, he said the sector\u2019s advancement was incorporated into the government\u2019s 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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
He also urged all concerned to work together to take Bangladesh\u2019s tourism industry to global markets, assuring stakeholders of the ministry\u2019s continued support.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Over 200 organisations from 10 countries are participating in the fair, showcasing destinations, tourism products, services and investment opportunities at around 300 stalls.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The minister described the fair as a platform for friendship, business, investment, cultural exchange and regional cooperation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Representatives of diplomatic missions, tourism industry stakeholders, development partners, investors and media professionals attended the inaugural ceremony.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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. \u201cWe are working on a Tourism Master Plan encompassing 1,498 tourist attractions,\u201d he said while inaugurating the 13th Asian Tourism Fair 2026 in the capital. Millat said the […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":6,"featured_media":37280,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1,93],"tags":[54],"class_list":["post-37279","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-bangladesh","category-nationwide","tag-54"],"yoast_head":"\n