1 August, 2012 (the-editor): Country's untapped tourism industry is gearing up for a projected boom in business tourism, riding on thousands of tourists visiting Bangladesh every year for business purpose only, industry insiders say.

There are a good number of tourist spots here having unique features particularly the world's longest sea beach Cox's Bazar and largest single-patch mangrove the Sundarbans, they said and added that these spots could be projected before the business tourists.

Taufiq Rahman, adviser of Tour Operators Association Bangladesh (TOAB), said the segment of the Meeting Incentives Conference and Exhibition (MICE) is on the rise in the country. "For any international exhibition in Bangladesh, at least 1,000 business executives come here."

He said business visitors come to Bangladesh for various purposes especially for Readymade Garments (RMG), machinery, yarn, fabric and knitting industries and exhibitions. 

"Chinese are the largest buyers among the business travelers," Rahman said referring to the just concluded textile and apparel technology expo, where 450 exhibitors came from China alone.

Rahman, said value addition in the sector is hundred per cent and foreign exchange earned from tourism all go to the government exchequer. 

Chief Executive Officer of Bangladesh Tourism Board (BTB)Aktaruz Zaman Khan Kabir said the country witnesses a good number of visitors coming to Bangladesh for seminar, symposium and exhibition purposes every year. "We can take the foreign visitors to our tourist points for promotion of business tourism."

The BTB is planning to open a separate booth at the airport to provide special services not only to business tourists but also to other tourists, he added. 

Shahidus Sadeque, Marketing Communication Manager of Ruposhi Bangla Hotel, said over ninety per cent visitors come for business purposes and the rest are airlines staff, government delegates, sports officials and exhibition officials. 

Visitors usually come here for three to four days trip and they complete their business in one or two days and they could be invited to see the historical places, archeological sites to promote tourism, he said.

"Providing the visitors with accommodation facilities is not only the part of tourists' satisfaction since they need to be familiar with the country's culture, tradition, seasonal festivals and food, said Shaikh Sayeed Hossain, general manager of Hotel Washington. 

Meherun N Islam, Group Managing Director of Conference and Exhibition Management Services (CEMS), a multinational exhibition organizer, said thousands of visitors visit Bangladesh every year for exhibition, fair and conference purposes.

Business tourists should be given special custom treatment, separate counter at airport to promote business tourism, she added. 

Experts say tourism industry would be the main driving force of the country's economy in the coming years like apparel industry provided infrastructure is developed. 



Staff Reporter, JMD