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S.M. SIRAJ UDDIN CHOWDHURY,

MBA, TOURISM & HOSPITALITY MANAGEMENT, UNIVERSITY OF DHAKA
rubelly@gmail.com

“Review of Tourism policy in Bangladesh, Scope for future improvements”

‘Introduction’

Reviewing the tourism policy is important for three reasons. Firstly, review is
important for understanding the policy decisions and its impacts. Secondly,
understanding policy’s interests, values, and planning processes. Finally, provide
solutions to any problem.

There are number of difficulties for reviewing the tourism policy. A first reason is that
tourism policy is beliefs and values, internally or externally, about the good and bad
matters. There always differences in policies in dealing with particular problems.
Policy is always a complex system.

‘Definition’

Before we go further, we need a definition of policy. Policy is derived from the word
‘polis’ (Greek), from which the terms police and politics are also derived. Shortly, policy
is a name to describe the general steps and outcomes of government.

Thus, tourism policy can be defined as a set of rules, regulations, guidelines, directive,
and development/promotion objectives and strategies that provide a framework of
collective and individual decision making.

Now we need to know the definition of improvement. Its early spelling was
‘emprowement’, meaning "profit, profitable use or management." So, improvement
means “the act of improving or the state of being improved.”

‘Tourism Policy, Importance of Developing Tourism Industry’

Our national tourism is in a beginning point. Though we have many resources and
chances but we are still failure to achieve our goals. There are some reasons by what
tourism industry development is important.

Tourism is the larger growing industry in this world.

Tourism can be the prime source of foreign currency.
We have the longest sea-beach of the world.
We have the largest mangrove forest Sundarban.

“Review of Tourism policy in Bangladesh, Scope for future improvements”

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S.M. SIRAJ UDDIN CHOWDHURY,
MBA, TOURISM & HOSPITALITY MANAGEMENT, UNIVERSITY OF DHAKA
rubelly@gmail.com

There are many large and small rivers what can be the tourist
generating source.
Tourism needs man-power. We have people.

In a word, for being the part of the World Tourism Income, Bangladesh needs a perfect
Tourism Policy.

‘Tourism Policy, Aims and Goals’

Aims and Goals of Tourism Policy support government and any other people or
organization related to tourism in coordination, planning, legislation, entrepreneurial
support, stimulation, promotion, social tourism, and public interest protection. Policy
aims and goals are given below.

 Economic Development: It generates foreign revenue, assists balance of

payments, provides employment countrywide, and increases local
income.
 Increase Employment: Tourism is a large industry for providing the
employment opportunity to local people. It strengths the number and
quality of local jobs by providing the rules and regulations for the
employees so that they should not be overlooked.
 Cultural Richness and Community Wellbeing: Tourism policy creates and
keeps the respect to historic heritage, authentic culture, traditions and
distinctiveness of the host communities.
 Resource Efficiency: Tourism policy ensures the optimum return from
the use of scarce resources.
 Environmental Purity and Sustainability: Tourism policy by its
regulations minimizes the environmental pollution by reducing air
pollution, water pollution, sound pollution and the wastage of visitors
and tourism enterprises. Thus tourism policy protects the environment
and social or cultural systems.

“Review of Tourism policy in Bangladesh, Scope for future improvements”

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S.M. SIRAJ UDDIN CHOWDHURY,
MBA, TOURISM & HOSPITALITY MANAGEMENT, UNIVERSITY OF DHAKA
rubelly@gmail.com

‘Tourism Policy, Development of Main Tourism Attractions’

Development of tourism attractions is very important for a county to achieve the goals
in this sector. When a country develops its tourism attractions then it can compete in
the run of this business.

 Development of sea-beach and natural tourism.

 Development of eco-tourism. Eco-tourism is considered the fastest-growing
market in the tourism industry, according to the World Tourism
Organization, with an annual growth rate of 5% worldwide, representing 6%
of the world's gross domestic product and 11.4% of all consumer spending -
- not a market to be taken lightly.
 Development of religious tourism. Religious tourism is the soft corner of
people’s mind.
 Development of cultural tourism. People who travel for the reason of
culture, for them this will be a good source of income.

‘Tourism Policy, Implementation of National Tourism Policy’

Tourism, as a larger industry, needs long term planning, sufficient investment and
financial and technical help.

o Laws, rules and regulations must be easy for foreign visitors.

o National tourism council must be needed for this sector and it should
be operated by the prime-minister.
o Advisory committee also needed.
o Set up a tourism related minister panel.
o There is also a need for well-decorated infrastructures and
superstructures.
o Need a good concern on Eco-tourism.

‘Tourism Policy, Steps taken for Implementing National Tourism Policy’

 Set laws, rules and regulations.

 Mark tourism areas and tourism attractions.
 Capital can invest in this sector from local and foreign income.

“Review of Tourism policy in Bangladesh, Scope for future improvements”

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S.M. SIRAJ UDDIN CHOWDHURY,
MBA, TOURISM & HOSPITALITY MANAGEMENT, UNIVERSITY OF DHAKA
rubelly@gmail.com

 Development of eco-tourism.
 Development of souvenir.
 Necessary planning and implementation.

‘Tourism Policy, Important Steps for Tourism Development’

 Mark attractions areas for foreign visitors.

 Govt. and Private airlines & Tourism organizations can work jointly.
 Find out the tourist generating countries and take necessary steps for
making them our visitors.
 Set up a logo and marketing for making Bangladesh as a Destination Brand.
 Arrange package tours with foreign visitors.
 Make strong Destination Management Service by publishing leaflet, poster,
brochure, pamphlet, map and providing them to all tourist service providers.
 Make professional people for this sector.
 Security & Safety must be needed for all kinds of visitors.

‘Tourism Policy, Constraints of Tourism in Bangladesh’

There are some major constraints of Tourism in Bangladesh given below

 Lack of social and political commitment.

 Non-availability of adequate infrastructure, including domestic and
international transportation, accessibility to tourist destinations,
accommodation and inadequate trained manpower.
 Non-existence of any marketing policy both in the private and
government sectors.
 Social insecurity: local people do not have visitor experience, so tourists
sometimes feel uneasy in some places.

“Review of Tourism policy in Bangladesh, Scope for future improvements”

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S.M. SIRAJ UDDIN CHOWDHURY,
MBA, TOURISM & HOSPITALITY MANAGEMENT, UNIVERSITY OF DHAKA
rubelly@gmail.com

‘Tourism Policy, Recommendations for Future Improvement’

 The development of tourist facilities should be taken up in a planned

manner at government and non-government levels. Tourism sector can be
run under PPP system.
 Yearly or half-yearly review of national policy can be a winning term in this
sector. By the review, the organization committee will be able to edit or
delete any item in the policy & from the policy.
 Heritage is an important item of our tourism sector. So, Heritage Tourism
development will be a good attraction for tourist. That’s why, in tourism
policy there need an importance on Heritage Tourism.
 There is a great need to highlight the tourism in education sector. So, in the
policy there need a rule for including Tourism in the syllabus of primary &
secondary level of education.
 There are many public & private universities running the Tourism
Department and providing the facilities to students for doing their
Bachelors, Masters, & MBA program. University of Dhaka is the leader in this
run. If there were a student committee formed for supporting the Tourism
sector of Bangladesh, then it would be very helpful. So, a Tourism Student
Committee (TSC) can be formed.
 Tourism is a good export business. Suppose when tourists come into
Bangladesh, they are purchasing travel experiences. Then they leave, they
take these experiences back with them. Thus, the Bangladesh has exported
travel experience. So, the government should give this sector an Export
House Status, like the garments industry & it must be written in the policy.
 A national tourism award can be given to the most honorable tourist
(local/foreign) and it can also be included on the policy.
 Government can observe and keep the pride of large public university
campuses and make them tourist attraction areas. University campuses like
DU, RU, JU and CU campuses can be a restricted area for other vehicles and
keep it only for the students and then make these as a tourist attraction.

‘Conclusion’

Since tourism is a multi-dimensional activity, and basically a service industry, it is necessary

that all the stakeholders become active partners in the endeavor to attain sustainable
growth in tourism if Bangladesh is to become a world player in the tourist industry.

“Review of Tourism policy in Bangladesh, Scope for future improvements”

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S.M. SIRAJ UDDIN CHOWDHURY,
MBA, TOURISM & HOSPITALITY MANAGEMENT, UNIVERSITY OF DHAKA
rubelly@gmail.com

“Review of Tourism policy in Bangladesh, Scope for future improvements”