b-planning

Tourism is the single fourth largest and fastest growing industry of the world in terms of employment generation and contribution to national GDP. Currently, travel and tourism share 9% of global GDP and have generated over 260 million jobs in 2012. As challenges from global climate change and economic recession pose a potential threat to the current global financial system, resulting in slowing down of national growth of many countries, tourism and travel industries still maintained growth as high as 3.1% in 2013. THE Tourism industry may become a tool for Third World countries to combat poverty by generating income and employment as well diversifying the economy ,given that the Third World countries often possess unparalleled natural beauty.

Bangladesh is a small deltaic riverine country located in South Asia and bordered by India (West, North and north east), Myanmar (South East), and Bay of Bengal (on the South). To many, Bangladesh possesses tremendous natural and cultural resource for the development of tourism industries. In particular, the country has two undisputed heritages, the Sundarbans (Natural mangrove forest) and Cox’s Bazaar sea beach, the world’s longest unbroken sea beach. Both treasures are blessed by the Bay of Bengal and situated to the south along the blue water line of Bengal Bay. Apart from these, other historical, cultural and archeological tourist sites have been developed in certain pocket throughout the country.

Fishing Boat at Saint Martin's Island

Although the country has huge potential for economic growth using tourism, the contribution from tourism sector to GDP and employment is only 2.1 % and 1.9%, respectively . In comparison with neighbor countries, Bangladesh is the lowest recipient of international tourist and the size of both international and domestic tourism market is very insignificant. Bangladesh is not well known to foreigners as a tourist destination; rather, it has been portrayed as a country stricken with poverty, climatic disasters and other poor images in the international environment. But the country has all the potential to be an attractive tourist destination in Asia pacific region. Moreover, the people themselves are hospitable, which is essential for the tourism industry.