The New Nation - Internet Edition

Staff Reporter

The three-day international tourism fair titled "Aktel Dhaka Travel Mart 2008" began at a city Hotel yesterday.

Syed Mohammad Zobaer, Secretary of Civil Aviation and tourism formally inaugurated the exhibition.

He said, the Government is going to introduce a new tourism act. A proposal will also be submitted to the Government to allocate special budget in the next fiscal year to develop the tourism sector. Along with the government, individuals should come forward to develop the sector.

He called on the people to vote for Cox's Bazar and the Sundarban to have place in the World's 7 natural wonders competition.

Shafique Alam Mehedi, Chairman of Bangladesh Parjatan Corporation, said, according to the new act that is going to be introduced the commercial activities of Parjatan Corporation will be handed over to the private sector for the betterment of tourism sector. Domestic tourism is gradually increasing in our country. He termed it as positive.

The Bangladesh Monitor, travel and tourism publication, and cell phone operator Aktel are jointly hosting the fair. 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 partner. Channel-I, Radio Today and The Daily Star are the media partner of the fair.

Total 44 organisations from different countries including Bangladesh are taking part in the fair, which includes National Tourism Organisations, Airlines, Tour Operators, Hotels, Resorts, Travel Trade bodies, Financial, and Educational institutes.

Javed tariq, Head of Commercial Affairs of Aktel; Dr MA Momen, Managing Director of Biman Bangladesh Airlines; Shahab Sattar, Managing Director of GMG Airlines; Ali Reza Iftekher, Managing Director of Eastern Bank Ld, among others, were present in the inaugural ceremony.

The fair is open for visitors from 10am to 8pm all the three days for an entry fee of Tk 20.