Tourism Industry of Bangladesh (part-1)

Travel is one of the most popular means of entertainment. And thousands of tourist destinations have sprung up around the world based on the daily needs of people who are thirsty for travel. In line with the times, endless efforts are being made to establish tourist centers as one of the sources of income. And from this thought consciousness tourism has developed as an industry. Bangladesh is a land of natural beauty. The arrival of tourists in this country since ancient times is still remembered in history. At present, the tourism industry has become one of the sources of national income in Bangladesh.

*Definition of Tourism:

It is difficult to define tourism in a few words or in the light of certain criteria. Because in the eyes of each person, tourism is different. Simply put, tourism is the location of people in a place of interest and the activities associated with it for the purpose of enjoying worldly beauty. When the economy gets a different momentum centered on tourism, it is called tourism industry. According to the International Organization for Migration (IOM), "tourism is a collection of phenomena and relationships arising from the travels and residences of individuals who are not engaged in any lucrative activities and have not settled permanently."

*Tourism center of Bangladesh:

Bangladesh is the center of various aesthetic beauty. The tourist centers of this country are a combination of various varieties. Some are historically important, some are famous for their natural beauty and some are attracting the attention of tourists as an aesthetic monument of religious heritage. Bangladesh is a country that is rich in all its traditional, cultural, historical and spiritual resources. For this reason, tourists have been arriving in Bangladesh since ancient times. Everyone knows the story of Fa Hien, Hiuen Tsang and Ibn Battuta who became famous tourists. Due to the diversity of tourist destinations in Bangladesh, there is a diversity among tourists. The names of the tourist centers of Bangladesh are given below with the help of location chart-

★The reason why the name of the tourist center is famous is the location:

1. The Sundarbans is the largest mangrove forest in the world- Khulna.

2. Cox's Bazar is the longest beach in the world- Cox's Bazar.

3. St. Martin's Island is the only marine coral island in Bangladesh- Cox's Bazar.

4. Kuakata is a place famous for watching sunrise and sunset from one place- Patuakhali.

5. Mahasthangarh is famous for its ancient and archeological monuments- Bogra.

6. Sonargaon is also famous for its folk art- Narayanganj.

7. Paharpur / Sompur Bihar is famous for its monuments of Buddhist civilization- Naogaon.

8. Madhabkunda is the only natural waterfall in Bangladesh- Sylhet.

9. Shilaidaha world poet Rabindranath Tagore has spent most of his life in this place. Here is his mansion- Kushtia.

10. The sixty-domed mosque is a unique creation in the medieval Islamic culture and architecture- Bagerhat.

11. Sitakot Bihar is an ancient Buddhist monastery- Dinajpur.

12. Mainamati Archaeological Site- Comilla.

*Economic Importance of Tourism Industry of Bangladesh:

Tourism industry is one of the fastest growing industries of the present time. The industry has become one of the top foreign exchange earning countries in the world due to its multidimensional diversity. Earnings in the tourism industry in Bangladesh are increasing every year. According to the Bangladesh Bank, Bangladesh's income from the tourism sector in 1999 was Tk 245.19 crore. It increased to 612 crore 45 lakh 20 thousand rupees in 2008. About 2% of Bangladesh's GDP comes from the tourism sector. The tourism industry has provided employment to about one million people. In 2012, 4.3 percent of the total GDP came from the tourism sector in terms of money, which is about 39,060 crore. Besides, in 2012 alone, 12 lakh 71 thousand 500 officers and employees were involved in the tourism sector. Which is 1.6 percent of the total jobs. (Source: WOTTC Report 2012)