New prospects in eco-tourism: Bangladesh Tourism Board seminar to strengthen public-private partnership.

Staff Reporter, New prospects in eco-tourism, Bangladesh Tourism Board seminar to strengthen public-private partnership To elevate the country's tourism sector to international standards, emphasis has been placed on the partnership of the public and private sectors in the promotion of eco-tourism and increasing mutual awareness. The speakers made these remarks at a seminar titled 'Partnership of the public and private sectors in the promotion of eco-tourism and increasing awareness' organized by the Bangladesh Tourism Board at the Tourism Building in Agargaon on Wednesday (August 12) at 10 am. Civil Aviation and Tourism Minister Afroza Khanam, MP, was present as the chief guest at the seminar. Civil Aviation and Tourism Secretary Fahmida Akhtar, ndc, was present as the guest of honor. The special guest was the Chairman of Bangladesh Tourism Corporation Md. Samimuzzaman. The program was presided over by the Chief Executive Officer (Additional Charge) of Bangladesh Tourism Board Md. Abdur Rouf, ndc. Speaking as the chief guest, Minister Afroza Khanam said that even after 55 years of independence, the expected development in the country's tourism sector is less than expected. The current government is working to establish Bangladesh as a tourism hub as promised in the election manifesto. She said that several initiatives have been taken to develop the tourism sector in the first five months of the government. However, the path to establishing Bangladesh as an international tourism hub is not easy. Cooperation of all stakeholders in the tourism sector is required to achieve this goal. The minister also said that in addition to setting priorities in the development plan, it is important to have regular communication between the government and the private sector. For this, she said that initiatives will be taken to eliminate information gaps and incoordination through meetings with private stakeholders every month. Highlighting the country's rural tourism potential, the minister said that in order to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), there is a plan to develop various villages including Mitingachhari in Kaptai Upazila of Rangamati, Pankhali in Dakop Upazila of Khulna, and Nafanagar in Bochaganj Upazila of Dinajpur as tourism spots. He further said that the government is moving forward with a plan to identify tourism potential places in 64 districts of the country and develop them as international standard tourism destinations. At the seminar, Civil Aviation and Tourism Secretary Fahmida Akhtar, ndc said that the work of Tourism Satellite Account (TSA) has already started to overcome the information gap in the development of the tourism sector. In addition, the work of formulating eco-tourism policies is also underway. She said that due to lack of coordination in the past, the desired progress has not been made in the tourism sector. It is possible to take the country's tourism sector further by eliminating this lack of coordination with the cooperation of the government and private sectors. The seminar discussed in detail the importance of eco-tourism in Bangladesh, its current status, various challenges for development, action plans and things to do. At the event, the keynote address on ‘Possibilities, Challenges and Development Action Plans for Eco-tourism in Bangladesh’ was presented by Dr. Md. Wasiul Islam, Professor of the Department of Forestry and Wood Technology, Khulna University. Tourism-related government and private organizations, experts, stakeholders and concerned individuals were present at the seminar.