Lack of infrastructure holds back tourism

With domestic tourism getting popular in recent years, local tour operators have said lack of adequate infrastructure is holding back their business growth.
The number of local holidaymakers visiting popular destinations such as the Sundarbans, Kuakata beach, Bandarban and Sylhet will rise tremendously if the infrastructure is developed, they said as a three-day tourism fair organised by Tour Operators Association of Bangladesh (Toab) is going on in the capital.
The government needs to encourage public-private initiatives to set up more hotels and ensure other facilities such as internet and ATM booths of banks at popular tourism spots across the country, said Hasan Mansur, president of Toab.
Mazhar Anwar Manna, managing director of a tour firm, said some hotel owners increase rent and other charges exorbitantly during the peak seasons, much to the frustration of tourists.
"As the hotel owners do not face any strict regulation in fixing rents, they increase service fees when they see tourist rush," he added.
He also said the tour operators have to face some security problems at Cox's Bazar. Tourists often fall prey to mugging, he added.
Industry people said around 20 lakh local tourists visit popular tourist destinations across the country a year.
Frequent pleasure and business trips to tourist destinations are also contributing to tourism growth, said the tour operators. There have been around 200 tour operators in the country.
Industry people also estimated 20 percent annual growth in the business based on local tourists.
M Azam Koreshi, a sales executive of Safari Plus, said during Eid vacation, the tour operators experience rush of local tourists, who mainly want to visit Saint Martin's island, Cox's Bazar, the Sundarbans, Kuakata beach and hill district Rangamati.
Enayetur Raskin, manager of Mountain Tour, said tour operators charge around Tk 4,000 a person for four nights and three days package for Saint Martin's and Cox's Bazar visit.
Four nights and three days packages for Kuakata and the Sundarbans cost Tk 3,500 and Tk 7,500, he added.