The New Nation - Internet Edition

NOW it is the turn of the tourism sector to go private. The government appears to be serious about enacting a new law to turn the state-owned Bangladesh Parjatan Corporation into a national tourism authority as the newly appointed chairman said the other day. The corporation has decided 'to lease out' all its business enterprises including hotels and motels, restaurants and rent-a-car services to the private sector by December next. The government has formed two committees to formulate 'a modern tourism law in the light of those in neighbouring countries.' The committees are expected to make recommendations for 'tourist-friendly immigration law' and reduction of tax and tariff to attract more tourists to the country.

The resources of the corporation would be handed over to the said authority. The proposed National Tourism Authority will supervise and facilitate tourism-related private organisations besides initiating various promotional activities for making the country a tourist destination. It will provide legal and infrastructural support to tourism and hospitality sector entrepreneurs.

The chairman said, business is not the job of the corporation, which should work as a facilitator. Since its establishment, the corporation has not been able to make its own business profitable as stated by its new chairman. All the tourism-related organisations like hotels, motels and tour operators will have to be registered with the proposed tourism authority. Government agencies concerned have started surveying the tourist spots and are exploring new places of tourist attraction. For the development of tourism as an industry, creation of infrastructure to cater the needs is required first. Countries like Malaysia and Maldives have achieved tremendous success in this regard with excellence keeping their own national and religious objectives above all others in promoting tourism for strengthening their economies. Bangladesh has all the potentials to follow the same line for economic prosperity.