Tourism sector to get a big boost
The government has taken a number of projects for the development of tourism sector. Once implemented, these are expected to attract more local and foreign tourists, which will eventually help the country achieve the much-desired double digit GDP growth.
According to an official document, the government is constructing a “Tourism Building” in the capital’s Sher-e-Bangla Nagar area of Agargaon, spending Tk 62.81 crore.
It is also constructing 14 cottages, restaurants, walkways, lakes and children’s corners at a cost of Tk 62.11 crore at Parki Beach in Chattogram.
Work is also underway to construct a hotel, restaurant, souvenir shop, walkway and parking lot at Dudh Sagar in Barishal. Besides, setting up a hotel and restaurant and other related facilities at Panchagarh at a cost of Tk 16.18 crore is also ongoing, the document shows.
Hotels and restaurants are being constructed at Nijhum Dwip and Hatia of Noakhali at a cost of Tk 49.61 crore, while a process is on to procure two water vessels.
The government has approved projects to construct tourism centres in Panchagarh and Mahananda Sheikh Hasina Bridge areas of Chapainawabganj at Tk 22.73 crore.
It is also conducting a feasibility study to build a world-class tourism establishment near Sundarbans, keeping its ecosystem intact for making the mangrove forest one of the attractive tourist destinations for domestic and international tourists.
Besides, the government is implementing a number of projects under public-private partnership to expand the sector.
They are: Development of resort and entertainment village at Parjatan Holiday Complex in Cox’s Bazar (Tk 1,500 crore); establishing an international standard tourism complex at the existing Motel Upal Compound of Bangladesh Parjatan Corporation (BPC) in Cox’s Bazar for Tk 500 crore, and establishing a five-star hotel and others facilities at the existing Motel Sylhet Compound of BPC at Sylhet with Tk 100 crore.
The other projects under the PPP are: setting up an international standard hotel and training centre on the existing BPC land at Mujgunni, Khulna at a cost of Tk 350 crore and establishing a hotel along with other facilities at the existing Pashur Hotel Compound at Mongla, Bagerhat with Tk 100 crore.
Besides, a process to approve construction of a five-star hotel on an eight-acre land of Motel Probal under BPC in Cox’s Bazar at a cost of Tk 565 crore and establishing a training centre and international-standard hotel in Barishal spending Tk 150 crore is also underway.
According to the document, another project has been taken to conduct a feasibility study for constructing tourism facilities in the Chattogram Hill Tracts area.
Steps have been taken to construct the Sheikh Hasina Tower at Khurushkul in Cox’s Bazar; establish an exclusive tourist zone on 95 acres of land and Hotel Labonya at Laboni point of Cox’s Bazar.
Another project is underway to introduce a sustainable climate resilient tourism system at Tanguar Haor in Sunamganj at a cost of Tk 1 crore.
Talking to the news agency, a senior official at the civil aviation and tourism ministry said both domestic and foreign tourists will be offered better facilities after the implementation of these projects are completed.
The official mentioned that the country earns over US $100 million from the tourism sector.
“Once implemented, these projects will help Bangladesh earn much more,” he said.
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