The country’s tourism sector that has been hit hard due to current coronavirus pandemic is expected to bounce back by October with the possibility of improved COVID-19 situation.
While expressing such optimism, tourist industry insiders, however, say unless the impact of the novel coronavirus is over, people will not move towards any tourism spot. If the government reopens the country’s major tourist attractions this will not bring any value due to the outbreak of coronavirus, they say.
Tour Operators Association of Bangladesh (TOAB) Treasurer Moniruzzaman Masum said, "We hope the tourism sector will be normal by next October. The whole winter season is very important for tourism. If the coronavirus spread slows down, tourists will go on trips in the coming winter. As a result, it will be possible to overcome the loss in this sector”.
He also hoped that, in the post-pandemic situation, due to high airfare and certain restrictions people will not be able to visit neighboring or other Asian countries. Hence, a big blow for the country’s domestic tourism awaits in the coming days.
Tourism businessmen are also preparing their plan keeping next winter season in their mind. As per their information, it was assured that, with the improvement of coronavirus situations, employees, who have lost their jobs, will get reappoint in phases.
On the other hand, the government has developed tourism industry guidelines that will enable the industry to gradually recover once the country reopens to tourism.
Civil Aviation and Tourism ministry senior secretary Md Muhibul Haque to this regard recently said, “We have taken initiatives for the post-pandemic tourism sector. We have prepared drafts and guidelines for tourists keeping the lethal virus precaution in mind”.
“We have trained concerned people about the tourism sector, what it will look like once the pandemic is over. All tourism concerned and travelers must have to follow the guidelines strictly”, he added.
According to civil aviation and tourism ministry information, the government has not imposed any restrictions on hotel-motels and tourism spots. As coronavirus is contagious, people avoid travel to stay away getting infected.
The ministry officials hoped that the country’s major tourism attraction Cox’s Bazar will be opened for tourists soon.
