The tourism sector of Bangladesh will get back on the track after successful implementation of the master plan, being designed by the government keeping an eye on 2041, stakeholders opined.
In South Asia, India, the Maldives, Sri Lanka, Nepal and Bhutan have comparatively better success in the tourism sector than Bangladesh.
The government has engaged a reputed international consultancy firm, named IPE Global, to prepare a master plan on tourism.
Bangladesh has set a target of attracting 10 million tourists and revenue of $8 billion by 2041, said consultants of the Preparation for Tourism Master Plan for Bangladesh
The success of the tourism sector will largely depend on the gradual implementation ‘Preparation of Tourism Master Plan for Bangladesh’, stakeholders concerned said.
The corona pandemic stood in the way of preparing the plan in time. Now the Bangladesh Tourism Board is working hard to complete the master plan talking suggestions of stakeholders concerned by December, 2022.
The tourism sector has been trying to recover the losses incurred during the last two years as the corona situation has improved a lot with life becoming normal.
Meanwhile, the government should mull over extending the tenure of Chief Executive officer of the Bangladesh Tourism Board (BTB), Jabed Ahmed, until this year as he has been engaged with a crucial plan tiled “Preparation of Tourism Master Plan for Bangladesh," sources said.
Zabed Ahmed, the dynamic and innovative government officer, will retire in May this year as several stakeholders consider that this tenure maybe extended up to December when the master plan is completed.
The tourism sector needs services of a person and bureaucrat like Zabed Ahmed to the serve the sector, said stakeholders concerned while communication with this correspondent
Sources said traditional bureaucrats can ensure maximum outputs to the promotion of tourism sector.
Jabed Ahmed Jabed Ahmed joined as Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Bangladesh Tourism Board (BTB) on 16th February 2020. He is a member of Bangladesh Civil Service (Administration) cadre holding the post of Additional Secretary. He passed the BCS examination in 1985 and joined in Bangladesh Civil Service Administration cadre on 15th February 1988. In his long professional career, he has held various important positions in district/upazila level in different capacities and the key ministries like home affairs, education, expatriate and land.
Meanwhile, the government should also appoint an outbound, innovative, and hardworking person as the next CEO of Bangladesh Tourism Board to steer the sector.
