12:00 AM, September 25, 2016 / LAST MODIFIED: 12:05 AM, September 25, 2016
Parjatan Corporation takes campaigns to boost tourism
Govt declares 2016 as a 'visit Bangladesh year'
A view of Cox's Bazar beach, a popular tourist destination. Photo: Star/file
Md Ziaul Haque Howlader
The volume of global footfall is increasing every year. But the share of this volume varies much from country to country. It depends on how a country can cash in on its own attractions in the competitive market. Tourist recipient countries usually undertake various campaign programmes. They offer new products and services, open new destinations, declare “visit country” years and so on.
Bangladesh also puts in efforts to attract foreign tourists in higher numbers. The present government is paying much importance to tourism. As part of various initiatives for the development of the tourism industry, the prime minister declared 2016 as a Visit Bangladesh Year or we can call it the tourism year.
The Visit Bangladesh Year will be observed throughout the next three years, until 2018. The main objectives of this declaration are to brighten the image of Bangladesh abroad, and attract foreign tourists and foreign investment. The target is to attract at least one million tourists to Bangladesh in 2016.
To achieve the target, Bangladesh Parjatan Corporation has taken various programmes. The corporation has prepared a yearlong calendar, which is full of events to be observed almost every week.
A logo with a tagline has already been unveiled to mark the year. The logo represents the two icons of Bangladesh -- the smiling and ferocious face of the Royal Bengal Tiger and the beautiful Jamdani sari. The tagline reads 'Life Happens Here'.
Tourists find the happiest and most hospitable people in the world when they visit the country. People offer hospitality to tourists with smiling faces irrespective of creed, caste, race and sex. People of this country are resilient. They smile even under stress and despite natural disasters.
Bangladesh is also rich in culture, traditions and heritage, where foreign tourists find their souls. It is widely known that Bangladesh is a country of diverse attractions and bountiful nature. History reveals that Bangladesh has been the cradle of civilisation, a centre of cultural diffusion.
The cultural history of Bangladesh is one of its greatest heritages, which every Bangladeshi is proud of. Each phase of the history of Bangladesh has its distinct characteristics and every race of people who came and settled here left their individual racial, religious or cultural impacts in the form of temples, stupas, monasteries, mosques and spirituality.
Bangladesh is a multi-faceted cultural collage. Its deep-rooted heritage is amply reflected in its architecture, literature, dance, drama, music and paintings. Influenced by religions -- Islam, Hinduism, Buddhism and Christianity --Bangladesh has been a melting pot of diverse races and confluence of civilisations.
Sculpture, tapestry, engravings are developing along the main stream contemporary art and drama, which have distinct features of intangible heritage in Bangladesh.
Fairs and festivals, both religious and social, always play a significant role in the lives of the people of Bangladesh that attract many tourists here from far and wide.
Bangladesh Parjatan Corporation has already observed many programmes, like raising awareness among the locals about tourism and hygienic food preparation, marketing, surfing programmes in Cox's Bazar, food festivals, kite festivals, cultural programmes, and folk music soiree. It has also organised seminars, introduced privilege cards, discounted offers at hotels and motels, and participated in different fairs at home and abroad.
Bangladesh Parjatan Corporation will host as many as 200 events throughout the next three years as part of the Visit Bangladesh Campaign.
The government has also taken initiatives to engage the youth in tourism. Bangladesh Parjatan Corporation and Parjatan Bichitra (a travel magazine) have already organised a three-day youth festival in Dhaka. Thousands of people thronged the fair and demonstrated different types of adventure tourism gears.
Parjatan Bichitra also organised Asian Tourism Fair, which was participated by Bangladesh Parjatan Corporation and the civil aviation and tourism ministry.
Bangladesh Parjatan Corporation has produced a romantic travel movie named 'Life in Rainbow', which represents the beautiful, adventurous tourist attractions that are visited by a foreign couple.
On the other hand, Bangladesh Tourism Board is carrying out promotions and publicity abroad.
The objective of the Visit Bangladesh Campaign is not only to enhance foreign tourist numbers but also increase the tally of domestic tourists. We expect that new jobs will be created and new tourism ventures will pop up. The involvement of women will increase manifold.
The Bangladesh missions abroad will also undertake different programmes to observe Bangladesh Tourism Year. Thus, Bangladesh will definitely be able to attract more tourists.
If foreign tourists visit during the ongoing campaign, they will be benefitted. So, we heartily welcome all the foreign tourists to visit Bangladesh and find their souls here.
The writer is the head of PR, Bangladesh Parjatan Corporation.