ASSIGNMENT ON:

THE POTENTIALS OF BOAT TOURISM IN BANGLADESH.

Abstract:
Over the past twenty years, worldwide demand for boat tourism has posted some of the biggest
gains within the tourism sector. The cruiser industry is the most important growth sector in the
entire tourism market. The market is still growing, despite the global economic crisis. Although
this market is the most mature one in different countries, but it is totally new in the aspect of
Bangladesh. In 2017, February-March an international boat ship took round trip through
Bangladesh with about 135 foreign tourists that made about 35 lakh foreign revenue. So it is a
great source of new economic development in the aspect of Bangladesh.

Introduction:

Cruise and Boat tourism is one of the most dynamic and fastest growing components of the leisure
industry worldwide. It is fast emerging as a new marketable product. Bangladesh with its vast and
beautiful coastline, virgin forests and undisturbed idyllic islands, rich historical and cultural
heritage, can be a fabulous tourist destination for boat tourists. With the Bangladesh economy
developing at a steady pace, middle class growing in number and increasingly possessing disposal
incomes which could be spent on leisure activities, Bangladesh could also take on boat tour in a
short way. A new window of opportunity has opened in the tourism sector as around a hundred
ocean boat tourists recently visited several areas of Bangladesh's costal belt, putting the country
on the world boat map. Tourists from 95 different nations visited Maheshkhali Island in Cox's
Bazar and the Sundarbans, the largest mangrove forest in the world on a ship named Silver
Discover. The government has taken this opportunity seriously and has arranged everything to
make it possible; various ministries and government agencies play an important role here. Cruise
and Boat tourists can play an import role in boosting the sector that can directly impact our
economy.

What is Boat Tourism?

A boat tour is a short trip in a small boat taken for tourist reasons, typically starting and ending in
the same place, and normally of a duration less than a day. This contrasts with cruising in large
ships for a number of days with accommodation in cabins. Usually, a sightseeing boat is used.
Boat tourism is a luxurious form of travelling, involving an all-inclusive holiday on a boat ship of
at least 48 hours, according to specific itinerary, in which the boat ship calls at several ports or
cities. Boat tourism means boat ship that is used for pleasure voyage, where the voyage itself and
the ship's amenities are part of the experience.
 Most modern boat ships feature the following facilities:

Fitness Centre Accommodation

Library Lounges Theatre / Cinema
Indoor and outdoor swimming pool Clubs Casino Spa
Basketball courts

Boat tourism potentials and opportunities:

The country earned Tk 35 lakh in foreign currency from that tour, said the tour operator Journey
Plus the recent past at a press meet at the civil aviation and tourism ministry. Another team with
tourists from 67 nations will be in the country today to travel to different coastal regions as well.
“This trip will also bring in a similar amount of foreign exchange, and at the same time, help spread
our reputation,” said Toufiq Rahman, chief executive of Journey Plus.

The minister expects tour operators to take initiative and the government will sponsor them, he
added. Tourism Secretary SM Ghulam Farooque said “the government will ensure all kinds of
incentives to help flourish the tourism sector”. There is a scope to earn foreign currency directly,
and it is a good source of employment, he added. Bangladesh has long been trying to be a part of
ocean boat tourism, like Sri Lanka, India and the Maldives among the South Asian countries.
Myanmar made it to the list in recent years, according to Bangladesh Tourism Board.Bangladesh
observed tourism year in 2016, which the government extended for another year.

The opportunity for exposing Bangladesh, to sea cruising will come, from a planned operation of
international boat company—Silver Sea Boat– and include Bangladesh in its existing itinerary.
River boats are one of the major tourist attractions in Bangladesh which is gaining increasing
popularity day by day. With a grand and resourceful Bay of Bengal at its north, Bangladesh is also
called the land of rivers. As a riverine country, about 800 rivers including tributaries flow through
the country in which our souls and livelihood are strongly connected. Like so many songs and
poems — which are written specially to celebrate our rivers — the majestically curvy banks or the
turbulent tide of Bangladeshi rivers give our people hope and an excitement to live the best out of
it. Apart from these rivers, we also have plenty of haors, baor, jheel, beel which strengthens our
relation with more affection.

The most fascinating boat is the historic old paddlewheel service known as the Rocket Steamer.
These paddlewheels was built in the British regime in the dockyards of Calcutta which have been
a playing a major and historic role in the water travel. The experience of overnight journey from
Dhaka to Hularhat on a first-class cabin of century old Rocket Steamer is just as royal as its
builders.

Barisal, the southern part of Bangladesh, is the home of river and canals. Many of them flow
through this division amidst the lush landscape. We will be amazed after discovering the life that
depends strongly on the riverine resources. We can explore the rivers and canals of Barisal by
country boats. In these rivers and canals, we will see guava gardens, floating fruit or rice market,
boat market, traditional riverine lifestyle, and a unique wildlife. In addition, we can also experience
see how our traditional rural life works.

The mysterious and nerve-spiking days-long river boat through the majestic Sundarbans forest the
largest littoral mangrove forest is definitely a unique experience for any foreign travelers. This
land is the safest sanctuary for a diverse range of wildlife. The careless look of amazing deer, a
rare glimpse or a sudden terrifying roar or even footprints of Royal Bengal Tiger on the swampy
land of Sundarbans, hiking against the bushy and thick jungles of Sundarbans etc will completely
satisfy any adventure seekers.

During winter in Sylhet, the vast wetlands like Hail Haor, Hakaluki Haor, Tanguar Haor is crowded
with a diverse range of wildlife. Among these wetlands, Tanguar Haor is located in Sunamganj
District (northeast of Bangladesh) covering an area of about 100km2 of which 2,802.36 ha2 is
wetland. With a unique ecosystem, it includes more than hundred resident birds and many more
seasonal species of bird. A boat ride in these wetlands will give a resourceful bird-watching tour.

Located in Gowainghat, Ratargul Swamp Forest is the only freshwater swamp forest in
Bangladesh. This also is one of the few freshwater swamp forest in the world. Currently, this forest
is naturally conserved under the Department of Forestry, Government of Bangladesh. The forest
is situated in the river Goain adjacent with the canal named Chengir Khal. During rainy season,
the forest goes under 20-30 feet water. We will have to rent a boat to wonder around the Ratargul
Swamp Forest.

Sangu River is the complete part of the natural beauty of Bandarban. It follows a northerly
circuitous course in the hill tracts up to Bandarban. It enters the district from the east and flows
west across the district and finally falls into the Bay of Bengal at the end of a course of 270 km.
This river is flowing through the hills thousands of years. It is an important route to communicate
with Ruma and Thanci Upozilla. It has huge financial interests for the population of Bandarban.
This river is widely used for transportation, agricultural and other necessary products for the people
of remote community. In the winter season the current of the river almost becomes stagnant but in
the rainy season the current becomes aggressive. Visitor must be attract with the beautification
scattered on the both sides of it. We can find here hills, forests, falls with a river together. All the
way we will be thrilled only and it is simply amazing. We will enjoy a magnificent river boat in
Sangu and there are so many spots to arrange a picnic. We can hire traditional boats or engine
boats from the old Sangu Bridge or from Boatghat at Kyachingghata.

This large man-made lake of Bangladesh spanning over an area of approximately 11000 square
kilometre, was created as a reservoir when the Kaptai dam was built during the 1960s. The lake
was created by flooding valleys and plain lands between numerous hills. This created a picturesque
view as forested hills and plateaus rise from beneath the water. The government run tourism
corporation and private operators offer Kaptai Lake Boat Tours, which is worth of it. Other scenic
spots are also accessible through the waterways. On wer way we will get to see the shuvolong
waterfalls and beauty of Rangamati.
Limitations:

 Discharge of sewage in marinas and near shore coastal areas.

 The lack of adequate port reception facilities for solid waste, especially in many small
islands, as well as the frequent lack of garbage storing facilities on board can result in solid
wastes being disposed of at sea, and being transported by wind and currents to shore often
in locations distant from the original source of the material.
 Land-based activities such as port development and the dredging that inevitably
accompanies it in order to receive cruise ships with sometimes more than 3000 passengers
can significantly degrade coral reefs through the buildup of sediment. Furthermore, sand
mining at the beaches leads to coastal erosion.
 The damage in the long term of marine life and the cost to preserve the destination’s
tourism inventories.
 Lack of security issues and policy for tourists.

Conclusions:

There is no question that boat trips bring money to local businesses, but ensuring the sustainable
development of a sail destination has a very high cost. We reiterate the initial question: are we sure
that the benefits of attracting cruises and boat to a tourism destination are higher than the costs? Is
it sure that the major players in the cruise industry are taking proactive measures to ensure a
sustainable future for cruise and boat tourism while preserving sail destinations? As could be
observed, there is a portion of the decision makers of destinations that pressure to promote cruise
and boat tourism but there is no policy in the local governments to control the impacts of such
activity. Given this fact, an alarm signal arises. The lack of planning that allows confronting the
massive arrivals of cruise and boat tourism is the guarantee of multiple negative effects in a
destination wherever this segment exists or is under consideration like an option for its economic
growth. Ports too often perceive that they need the cruise ships more than the cruise lines need
them, but in fact there is a mutual need. Ports have not yet realized that with the recent expansion
of the cruise industry cruise lines need new ports as much if not more than the ports need them.
Ports continue building new piers and terminals to both attract cruise ships and to keep them
coming back. This paper intend to be a reflection that invite decision makers of cruise destinations
to think about what they expect with the promotion of cruise tourism and to take decisions based
on serious studies. It is also very important that destinations have a serious policy of promotion
and management of cruise activity in their territory. This paper is nothing more than a preliminary
study about cruise ship industry. We intend to use this study as an initial material for future
researches. There is much to do, trying to hear players points of view who have not been heard,
collect data and thereby (there is very few data about cruises and in particular about impacts of
their activity), provide results that can be used to inform local governments on the effects of cruise
tourism and so on.
Reference:

 http://www.thedailystar.net/business/bangladesh-enters-cruise-tourism-1
 http://www.dhakaholidays.com/river-cruise-bangladesh.html
 http://www.bangladeshmonitor.com.bd/corporate/103/Cruise-tourism-
prospects,-opportunities-highlighted
 http://www.dhakatribune.com/bangladesh/2017/02/22/silver-discoverer-
arrives-75-tourists/
 http://visitbangladesh.gov.bd/things-to-do/the-grand-river-cruise/
 http://greenwatchbd.com/bangladesh-poised-to-enter-global-ocean-cruise-
map-in-tourism/
 Course Name: Urban & Rural tourism.

Course Code: 413

Submitted To:
Jameni Jabed Suchana
Lecturer
Department of Tourism and Hospitality Management
Faculty of Business Studies
University of Dhaka
Submitted By:
Md. Mamun Hasan
Roll No: 96
Batch: 8th
Section: B

Date of Submission: 27th March, 2018

Department of Tourism and Hospitality management, University of Dhaka.