Bangladesh Wants More Tour Products Developed for Australian Market
“Travel to South Asia is booming yet Bangladesh hasn’t been able to capitalise on this trend,” said Mr M. Humayun Kabir, High Commissioner, High Commission for Bangladesh, Canberra [pictured right], in an exclusive interview with TravelMole following the first-ever staging of Asia on Show in Sydney recently.
Bangladesh has the longest sea beach in the world – a 75 km stretch of sand near Cox’s Bazaar – as well as the world’s largest mangrove reserve and the largest riverine network, he said.
“The awareness of Bangladesh as a distinct tourist destination is coming, however,” he said citing the success of the recent Dhaka Travel Mart 2007. Organised by the Bangladesh Monitor at the Dhaka Sheraton Hotel, the three day event in late April drew interest from many countries, said Mr Kabir.
Designed to project the tourist potential of Bangladesh and provide a showcase for new tour products, the Dhaka Travel Mart is scheduled to be held again from April 26 – 28, 2008. See www.teems-bd.com
On the local front Mr Kabir said that the High Commission is eager to cooperate with Australian tour operators and tour wholesalers in developing innovative products that incorporate the significant attractions of this culturally rich and scenically diverse South Asian nation.
Mr Kabir feels that Bangladesh has a bright tourist potential but that the country needs to identify niche products and then suitably market these in a cost effective manner.
Situated at the confluence of the mighty Ganges and Brahmaputra rivers, maritime tourism is one obvious niche that can be developed.
The densely forested mangrove swamps of the Sundarbans, home to the Royal 
Bengal Tiger, [pictured left] are one of the top attractions of this highly populated country which is about twice the size of Tasmania.
In addition to elusive tigers and leopards, more than 200 species of mammals inhabit Bangladesh. Consequently, wildlife tourism is another niche product that can be further developed.
Other special interest products that can be developed and promoted are tea tours to the upcountry area of Sylhet, tribal tours to the Chittagong Hill Tracts and tours that include the Moghul and British colonial architectural monuments of Dhaka.
A “Destination Bangladesh” seminar/workshop currently being planned for late June in Sydney is intended to stimulate members of the travel industry into developing/selling more tour packages to this emerging nation.
Additional information can be obtained by contacting the High Commission of Bangladesh in Canberra, tel 6290 0511 or e-mail [email protected]
Exclusive Report by Thomas E. King, TravelMole’s Travel and Lifestyle Editor
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