Tourism sector in the country has performed much better in the outgoing year of 2009 than the previous year, said the concerned individuals.
According to the leading tour operators of the country, in terms of revenue inbound, domestic and outbound tourism have registered significant growth in 2009.
Political stability also contributed to the growth of the sector, they said.
They further said this increase could be much higher had there been enough government initiatives to promote country's tourism in the face of the world.
'The year 2009 was indeed much better than 2008,' Hasan Mansur, the managing director of The Guide Tour Limited, told New Age.
He said that in first six months of 2009-10 fiscal, there has been 24 per cent growth comparing with the corresponding period of the previous fiscal year (2998-09). 'Based on that it can be safely said we have done better in 2009.'
Mansur, also a former president of Tour Operators Association of Bangladesh, said that the tourism growth in the country could be much higher if the policy makers did what they were supposed to do.
Responding to a query, he said, 'This growth is natural and result of initiatives of the tour operators.'
Syed Golam Kader, general manager of Galaxy Holidays, told New Age that in 2009 his organisation has registered revenue increase of about 30 per cent in inbound, about 20 per cent in outbound and nearly 10 per cent in domestic tourism.
About less growth in domestic tourism, he clarified that his farm emphasises more on inbound and domestic tourism.
Kader echoed Mansur saying that much more could be achieved if there were government initiatives to promote tourism. 'The government needs to formulate tourism-friendly polices and development plans. Most importantly, vigorous marketing activities will have to be undertaken to inform people across the globe about the country's tourist attractions.'
He also said that there is a big gap between the government's attitude and real scenario. Many organisations put forward numerous recommendations for the promotion and development of tourism, but the government has not taken initiatives to implement those recommendations, he added.
To a question, Kader said the scarcity of standard accommodations is the main problems faced by the western tourists. |
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