Bangladesh Tourism Corporation has entered its 50th year. Founded by Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, the organization is celebrating its 50th anniversary. On this occasion, various programs including press conference, discussion programme, logo unveiling, cake cutting, rally were organized at Paryatan Bhaban in Agargaon on Saturday.
Speaking as the chief guest on the occasion, State Minister for Civil Aviation and Tourism Md Mahbub Ali MP said that tourism was one of the areas on which the visionary statesman Bangabandhu focused on rebuilding the war-torn country immediately after independence. The official journey of tourism in Bangladesh started with the hand of the Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman. He set up 'Bangladesh Tourism Corporation' - a pioneer in the development of tourism industry in the country - to showcase all the aesthetic beauty and splendor of nature and man to domestic and foreign tourists.
He further said that for a long time now, Bangladesh Tourism Corporation has been providing quality food, accommodation and various tourism services to the tourists by constructing hotels, motels, restaurants, duty free operations, resorts, training institutes etc. in the attractive tourist areas of the country. In the last few years, Bangladesh Tourism Corporation has also made significant contribution in developing Cox's Bazar, the main tourist destination of the country and other tourist attractions of the country.
The state minister said the Bangladesh Tourism Corporation also runs the National Hotel and Tourism Training Institute, the country's first tourism training center established by Bangabandhu to impart hands-on training to those involved in the tourism industry.
This training center is creating about 1600 skilled human resources every year. Since its inception, the company has built up more than 60,000 skilled human resources, who have been working at home and abroad with a reputation. Due to the expansion of tourism industry in the country, the demand for skilled manpower in this sector is constantly increasing. This will increase the capacity of the organization as well as meet the growing demand for skilled manpower from tourism partners.
State Minister Mahbub Ali said that the journey of the tourism industry started in the hands of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman. Over time, it is evolving through the multi-dimensional leadership of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and is developing internationally. As a result of the tourism-friendly policies and activities of the Prime Minister, the tourism industry of the country has now reached a new chapter of development. In recent years, along with government initiatives in the country, private initiatives in this sector have been developing tremendously, which is very positive for the industry.
The state minister said the management and service delivery of Bangladesh Tourism Corporation has changed a lot since its inception. Measures have been taken to modernize its services in view of the needs of the age. In the last 12 years, the tourism corporation has implemented 20 development projects at a cost of around Tk 264.06 crore. Besides, as part of various important initiatives of the government for the development of tourism industry in the country, Bangladesh Tourism Corporation has undertaken 12 projects for developing the sector.