The New Nation - Internet Edition

BSS, Dhaka

Tourism Industries Association of Bangladesh (TIAB) starts an awareness programme today to encourage people towards voting for Cox's Bazar and the Sundarbans in the ongoing worldwide campaign for new seven wonders of the nature.

Addressing a press conference at the National Press Club here today, TIAB President Khabir Uddin Ahmed said the awareness campaign would be launched at a function on the premises of Munshiganj College today with the patronage of Bangladesh Parjatan Corporation (BPC).

The awareness programme includes different District-based activities by involving the people representing all sections of the society, he said. The slogan of the programme is "Vote for Cox's Bazar and Sundarbans: Contribute to the Change Process."

Referring to the ongoing global campaign to select seven new natural wonders, the TIAB chief said, "it is a matter of great pleasure that the world's longest sea beach in Cox's Bazar is occupying the first position in the contest while the position of the Sundarbans, the world's largest mangrove forests, is gradually going up."

Khabir said people in large numbers should come forward to vote for the two sites of nature's bounty in Bangladesh. Anyone having an e-mail account can vote on the website - www.new7wonders.com.

TIAB Secretary General Dr Zakaria Hossain, Vice-Presidents Professor Jahangir Chowdhury and Mohammad Ali, BPC Public Relations Officer Parvez Ahmed Chowdhury and Chairman of TIAB campaign committee Talukdar Farid Ahmed, among others, were also present.

The TIAB president said the country's tourism sector has huge potentials to contribute to the national economy more than any other leading sector.

"The potentials of economic development with increased revenue income both in local and foreign currencies are hidden in the tourism sector, which could also alleviate poverty largely," he said.

Despite worldwide boost in the tourism industry, he said, Bangladesh is still lagging behind because of the lack of attention of the past governments to this potential sector.

"Tourism is expanding in conservative Muslim countries including Saudi Arabia, where various initiatives are being taken for development of this industry," he said adding that there were seldom any efforts to improve this sector in Bangladesh over the decades.

The number of foreign tourists in Bangladesh was 2.89 lakh in 2007, Khabir Uddin said and added that the country is lagging behind in this sector compared to other South Asian countries.

Chairman of Bangladesh Parjatan Corporation (BPC) Shafiq Alam Mehedi is expected to attend the launching ceremony of the awareness campaign as the chief guest. The function will be sponsored by TIAB Vice-President Mohammad Ali, also the Managing Director of Padma Resort.