The event was organised by United Tourism Stakeholder Society of Bangladesh (UTSSOB)
May 14, 2026: Today a roundtable discussion titled “Expectations from the new government in the tourism sector” was held at a local hotel recently debuted as a tourism sector thinktank. Tourism sector entrepreneurs, experts, academicians and media representatives attended the program.- Rezaul Ekram General Secretary of UTSSOB
Tourism can become Bangladesh’s growth engine: Experts
Tourism development in Bangladesh hampered by lack of research-based data: Stakeholders
Bangladesh’s tourism sector has the potential to emerge as a major growth engine for the economy by generating foreign currency earnings, creating jobs for young people and attracting investment, speakers said at a roundtable discussion held in Dhaka on Thursday.
The event was organised by United Tourism Stakeholder Society of Bangladesh (UTSSOB), a newly formed tourism think tank.
Speakers said Bangladesh has failed to develop internationally recognised tourism products and destination branding due to a lack of research, reliable statistics and long-term policy planning.
However, they noted that the country possesses significant untapped potential, including natural beauty, cultural heritage and diverse tourism attractions capable of drawing foreign visitors.
They also said around four million people are currently directly and indirectly employed in the tourism sector, highlighting its growing importance to the national economy.
Dr M Badruzzaman Bhuiyan, professor at Department of Tourism and Hospitality Management of Dhaka University, said tourism is the main economic driver in 51 countries around the world and stressed the need to utilise tourism graduates from universities more effectively.
Mofizur Rahman, managing director of Novoair, said all stakeholders in the tourism industry must work together in a coordinated manner to ensure sustainable sectoral growth.
Adviser to Tour Operators Association of Bangladesh (TOAB), Syed Habib Ali, said meaningful progress in tourism would not be possible unless the country’s top political leadership gives direct attention to the sector.
Former chief executive officer of the Bangladesh Tourism Board, Javed Ahmed, said the government must recognise tourism as a powerful economic growth engine capable of diversifying the economy and increasing foreign exchange earnings.
The speakers also emphasised the importance of policy support, infrastructure development, research-based planning and international marketing to attract more foreign tourists.
The roundtable was chaired by UTSSOB President HM Hakim Ali. Opening remarks were delivered by the organisation’s General Secretary Rezaul Ekram, while Vice-President Toufiq Rahman moderated the discussion.
Other participants included tourism entrepreneurs, aviation professionals, academics and industry representatives who urged the new government to formulate a long-term tourism development strategy to transform the sector into a major pillar of Bangladesh’s economy.
The discussion, titled “Expectations from the New Government for the Tourism Sector,” brought together tourism entrepreneurs, academics, industry experts and media representatives, who called for stronger collaboration between the government and private sector to unlock the country’s tourism potential.
AOAB secretary general Mofizur said Bangladesh has enormous tourism potential, but the sector requires proper planning and conservation-focused development to achieve sustainable growth.
Bangladesh’s tourism sector is struggling to reach its full potential due to the absence of research-driven planning, reliable statistics, and coordinated policy support, industry stakeholders said at a roundtable discussion held in Dhaka today (14 May).
“We are significantly lagging behind in research-based planning for tourism development. Without credible data and proper research, it is impossible to formulate sustainable policies,” said Mofizur Rahman, secretary general of the Aviation Operators Association of Bangladesh (AOAB), at a roundtable conference titled “New Government, New Hope for the Tourism Sector in Bangladesh” organised by the United Tourism Stakeholders Society of Bangladesh (UTSSOB) at a city hotel in Dhaka.
Mofizur said Bangladesh has enormous tourism potential, but the sector requires proper planning and conservation-focused development to achieve sustainable growth.
He also stressed the need for a “united voice” among tourism stakeholders instead of fragmented approaches.
“If all stakeholders can jointly present the sector’s challenges and opportunities to the government, meaningful changes will become possible,” he added.
Highlighting the close relationship between aviation and tourism, he said policy inconsistency and lack of coordination among government agencies have slowed the sector’s growth. He urged policymakers to include industry stakeholders in decision-making processes and formulate policies based on practical experience and professional expertise.
Tanzim Anwar, president of the Aviation and Tourism Journalists Forum of Bangladesh (ATJFB), said Bangladesh has failed to develop innovative tourism products due to inadequate research and the lack of reliable statistics.
“Despite having huge potential and numerous attractions capable of drawing foreign tourists, the country has not been able to fully capitalise on its tourism resources,” he said.
Civil Aviation and Tourism Minister Afroza Khanam told Parliament on 29 April that under a proposed “Tourism Mega Plan (2026–2040)”, the government aims to attract 5.57 crore tourists and create 2.19 crore jobs by 2040.
According to official data presented in Parliament, the tourism sector currently employs around 51.9 lakh people, a figure projected to rise to 72.8 lakh by 2030.
Former CEO of the Bangladesh Tourism Board, Jabed Ahmed, said the government would become more proactive if policymakers could better understand tourism as a major growth engine for the economy.
Meanwhile, Burhan Uddin, deputy director of the Bangladesh Tourism Board, said tourism product development could be strengthened if the prime minister’s official tours included visits to iconic tourist destinations and festivals across the country.
“Our honourable prime minister travels across the country for official duties. If significant tourism destinations and cultural festivals are included in those visits, they will gain greater global exposure,” he said.
The speakers S.HABIB ALI Advisor TDAB, Aslam Khan Chairman tourism Developers Association of Bangladesh TDAB, also emphasised the need for skilled manpower in both the tourism and aviation sectors. They said engaging young people through training and professional development could create new employment opportunities and contribute positively to the national economy.
They stressed the importance of branding not only Cox’s Bazar but also other tourism destinations such as the hill tracts, Sylhet, Barishal, Gazipur, and coastal regions to international audiences.
Zamiul Ahmed Tourism Expert and Advisor TDAB, The discussants further warned against unplanned development and environmental destruction, saying such practices could seriously threaten the long-term sustainability of Bangladesh’s tourism industry.
The roundtable discussion was chaired by H M Hakim Ali, president of UTSSOB. Opening remarks were delivered by the organisation’s general secretary Rezaul Ekram, while vice-president Toufiq Rahman moderated the session. Industry leaders and tourism stakeholders also spoke at the event.
