The New Nation - Internet Edition

BUSINESS REPORT

A three-day International Tourism Fair, styled 'Aktel Dhaka Travel Mart 2008' begins today at Winter Garden of Dhaka Sheraton Hotel.

Civil Aviation and Tourism Secretary Syed Mohammad Zobaer will formally inaugurate the exhibition at 10.30am at the Ball Room of Dhaka Sheraton Hotel. The Bangladesh Monitor will be hosting the fifth edition of the International Tourism Fair.

Leading cellphone operator Aktel is playing host as the Title Sponsor of the event, while Biman Bangladesh Airlines, GMG Airlines, Eastern Bank Ltd, Association of Travel Agents of Bangladesh (ATAB) and Tour Operators Association of Bangladesh (TOAB) are acting as premium partners. Channel-I, Radio Today and English daily The Daily Star are acting as media partners.

A total of 44 organisations from twelve different countries, including host Bangladesh are taking part in Aktel Dhaka Travel Mart-2008, which includes National Tourism Organisation, airlines, tour operators, hotels, resorts, travel trade bodies, financial and educational institutions.

Participating organisations during the three-day exhibition will offer special discounted airfares, tour packages and a host of other offers to the visitors.

Visitors will be able to go around the fair from 10:00am to 8:00pm on all the three days paying an entry fee of Tk 20. Travel trade partners will be able to hold one to one parleys from 10:00am to 12:00pm. A raffle draw on the entry coupons will be held on the concluding day on March 15 at 7.30pm at Dhaka Sheraton Hotel. Prizes will include airline tickets to various destinations home and abroad and other exciting tour packages, hotel stays and meal vouchers.

A seminar on the 'Eco' and the newest trend 'Geo should be the mainstay of Bangladesh tourism' will be held on the sideline of the exhibition on March 14, which will be organised jointly by The Bangladesh Monitor and Department of Tourism and Hospitality Management, Dhaka University.