Padma bridge to radically change Bangladesh’s tourism industry
Tourism is the integration of culture, society, civilisation, art, history, tradition, literature, architecture and the nature of a country.
Documentary evidences showed that the history of tourism in Bangladesh is very old. Around 302 BC, the great emperor of Greece, Alexander, sent one of his ambassadors named Megasthenes to the royal court of King Chandragupta Maurya in ancient Bangladesh.
Megasthenes' book Indica recorded ancient India at that time. Fa-Hien was the first Chinese traveller from ancient Bengal who came to Chandragupta's court in 380 AD. Then came successively Hiuen Tsang and Ma-Huan.
In 1333, the Moroccan traveller Ibn Battuta came. Through the description of Ibn Battuta, Bengali at that time became known to the people of the world.
After Bangladesh's independence in 1971, Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman went to Kuakata on a political visit and was overwhelmed by its natural beauty and said that this country has immense potential for tourism.
If it can be expanded, the economic image of the country will change, he said.
Bangabandhu's prediction is becoming a reality today. Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina facilitated that practical path by constructing the Padma Bridge. Indeed, the immense potential of tourism has been opened up through the Padma Bridge.
At the beginning of the article, I mentioned the arrival of Chinese tourists in ancient Bengal. There is a reason for this. The Chinese were associated with the tourism history of Bangladesh.
The contribution of the Chinese is also undeniable as the immense potential of tourism is created through the construction of the Padma Bridge. Therefore, the Chinese were involved in the history of tourism in Bangladesh and they are still involved.
An improved communication system increases a country's chances to receive more global tourists.
Bangladesh will earn a huge amount of foreign exchange if the number of global tourists rises. Higher number of global tourists will boost Bangladesh's foreign exchange reserves.
Padma Bridge is a real example of an improved communication system in Bangladesh.
Today the world of the digital age is called a global village. We can take Bangladesh's booming tourism industry to a better level through the use of digitalisation.
For this, comprehensive promotion and dissemination at the national and international levels are required. We need to form a framework for the future development of the tourism industry. Along with that, the proper and final implementation of the tourism policy is needed.
The tourism plan can be improved by increasing public awareness and through various tourism-oriented meetings and seminars. The growth and development of this industry are not possible overnight. This requires everyone's collective effort. Tourism is the medium by which a nation carries its overall identity.
Bangalees are said to be a hospitable nation. But being a hospitable nation, we cannot show our hospitality to the world. Because we are unable to develop our tourism industry in an organised way. We should follow the countries that are at the pinnacle of success in the agriculture industry.
The tourism industry is a collective affair. A large group of people must work together.
Bangladesh's success in the tourism industry will be enviable if everyone participates in the movement to develop a tourism-friendly Bangladesh in combination with the government, administration, and people.
Padma Bridge can be considered a symbol of the movement to develop a tourism-friendly Bangladesh.
Considering the immense natural resources, historical importance, and traditional aspects of the southern part of Bangladesh, we have not been able to present it to the world since independence just because of the inadequacy of the communication system.
Padma Bridge is serving as a link to introduce the tourism industry of South Bengal to the world. It will be good for the country and the nation if the tourism industry is fully integrated as an important industry in the country's economy.
The writer is the media coordinator at the Bangladesh Association of Amusement Parks and Attractions (BAAPA).
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