Promote tourist spots to attract foreigners

Foreigners are not attracted to the country's tourist spots due to a lack of proper publicity, said speakers at a discussion in Chittagong yesterday.

They said Bangladesh witnesses less foreign tourists than the neighbouring countries as it cannot promote its tourist spots.

The discussion titled, “Collaboration with eco-tourism enterprises and their association to link with co-management committees”, organised by Community Development Centre, at the Office of Forest Conservator in the city's Nondon Kanon area.

Addressing the programme, Chittagong Divisional Forest Officer (South) Rafiqul Islam Chowdhury said although the division is blessed with waterfalls, hills, rivers and the longest sea beach in the world, its potential is yet to be utilised properly.

“Though enriched with natural beauty, we have very few foreign tourists,” he added.

Deputy Conservator of Forest of Chittagong Circle GM Mohammad Kabir said, “We will have to show foreigners the video footage of tourist spots at the entrance of airports.”

Such footage can also be displayed in posh hotels where most of the foreigners stay, he added.

Presiding over the discussion, Divisional Forest Officer SM Golam Mowla said after visiting Khoiyachhara waterfall several Canadian tourists termed it a “scenic beauty”.

The speakers suggested taking security measures at tourist spots, easing communication and making information about tourist destinations available on websites.

ANM Abdul Wadud, Chittagong divisional forest officer (north), and Iftekhar Hossain, monitoring officer of CODEC, spoke among others.