State Minister for Civil Aviation and Tourism Mahbub Ali has extended a call to Japan for investment in the advancement of Bangladesh's burgeoning tourism sector.
The appeal was made during a meeting between the State Minister and Japanese Ambassador to Bangladesh, IwamaKiminri, held at the State Minister's Office at the secretariat on Tuesday.
In attendance during the discussion was Mokammel Hossain, the secretary of the Ministry of Civil Aviation and Tourism.
The State Minister emphasized that Bangladesh holds vast untapped potential for tourism and has recently completed formulating a master plan for the industry under the guidance of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina. This comprehensive blueprint aims to propel Bangladesh's tourism sector into a new era of growth and prosperity.
Japan, a longstanding friend and development collaborator of Bangladesh, was urged by the State Minister to play a pivotal role by investing in various sectors of the country's tourism industry.
In response, Japanese Ambassador IwamaKiminri lauded the economic advancements and progress achieved under Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina's leadership. He expressed delight over the forthcoming soft opening of HazratShahjalal International Airport's third terminal, which has been funded by the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) and is set to debut in October.
To further foster relations between the two nations, Biman Bangladesh Airlines is set to inaugurate direct flights between Bangladesh and Japan, commencing from September 1. This move is expected to bolster the bond between the people of both countries and facilitate increased connectivity.
Ambassador Kiminri also voiced a keen interest in Bangladesh's tourism master plan, expressing a strong desire for Japan's collaboration in the future development of the nation's tourism industry, in addition to their ongoing contributions to the aviation sector.
This collaborative stance from both sides augurs well for the evolution of Bangladesh's tourism landscape and the continued strengthening of bilateral ties.