Kamrul Hasan: The Minister of Civil Aviation and Tourism, Afroza Khanam Rita, MP, has called for innovative initiatives to transform the country’s tourism sector into a dynamic and profitable industry. She emphasized that desired progress in the sector cannot be achieved without proper planning, effective implementation, and modern branding strategies.

She made these remarks as the chief guest at an exchange meeting held on Tuesday (May 5) দুপুরে at the Tourism Bhaban with officials and employees of the Bangladesh Parjatan Corporation and the Bangladesh Tourism Board.

The minister stated that the government has already initiated steps to turn the Bangladesh Parjatan Corporation into a profitable organization. She noted that the tourism sector has not achieved the expected level of progress over the past 17 years. However, the current government is placing strong emphasis on formulating well-structured action plans to overcome this stagnation.

She further said that Bangladesh must strengthen its position in the global tourism market through extensive promotion and strategic branding of tourist destinations. In this regard, she urged concerned officials to adopt new and creative initiatives. At the same time, she stressed the importance of identifying long loss-making hotels and restaurants and transforming them into profitable entities.

To this end, she announced that field-level inspections will be conducted at the district level. She also instructed that the corporation’s existing vehicles be gradually replaced with environmentally friendly electric vehicles.

A PowerPoint presentation was delivered at the meeting, highlighting the history, vision, goals, and ongoing activities of the tourism corporation and the tourism board, along with the sector’s potential and challenges.

Among others present were State Minister for Civil Aviation and Tourism M Rashiduzzaman Millat, MP; Secretary of the ministry Fahmida Akhtar (NDC); Chairman of Bangladesh Parjatan Corporation Saima Shahin Sultana; and senior officials from the ministry, the corporation, and the tourism board.

According to analysts, if such coordinated initiatives are effectively implemented, the country’s tourism sector will gain new momentum and make a significantly greater contribution to the national economy.