Envoy advises Bangladesh to form tourism hub with Sri Lanka, Maldives

Bangladesh can form a hub with Sri Lanka and Maldives to promote regional tourism and begin a new era, WA Sarath K Weragoda, Sri Lankan high commissioner, said yesterday.
Sri Lanka is ready to help Bangladesh, Weragoda said at the inaugural ceremony of the three-day Chittagong Tourism Carnival-2012 at The Peninsula Hotel in the port city.
The Bangladesh Monitor, a fortnightly magazine, and Bangladesh Tourism Board (BTB) are joint organisers of the show.
A total of 20 airlines, hotels, resorts, and tour operators with special packages and discounts are participating at the carnival, which will remain open for visitors from 10am to 8pm.
"Bangladesh has the potential and unique tourism spots that are rare in any other countries of the world. The government can develop and promote them to international tourists," he said. "Bangladesh is not a popular destination due to 'negligence of authority'."
After opening the event, Faruk Khan, civil aviation and tourism minister, said the government will provide full policy support for private initiatives to the development of tourism in Chittagong.
He said the BTB is working to promote the sector and brand Bangladesh to the world.
“The board has already selected 10 spots in each district to declare them as exclusive tourism spots and put them on the website.”
Last year, the board participated in 12 international tourism carnivals around the world and its audio visual presentation -- Beautiful Bangladesh -- won the third prize at one of those, said Faruk.
The government is going to establish a 60 megawatt wind power station in Cox's Bazar to make tourism eco-friendly, he said.
Khan also inaugurated a workshop on tourism product marketing at Butterfly Park in the port city later.
Wahidul Alam, editor of the magazine, and Aktaruzzaman Khan Kabir, chief executive officer of BTB, were also present.