Desk Report:
A discussion meeting and exhibition marking World Tourism Day 2026 were held on Saturday (October 3, 2026) at 3:00 PM at the Bangladesh-China Friendship Conference Center.
Civil Aviation and Tourism Minister M Rashiduzzaman Millat attended the event as the chief guest. Special guests included Abul Kalam Azad Siddiqui, Chairman of the Parliamentary Standing Committee on the Ministry of Civil Aviation and Tourism; Md. Abdur Rouf, Additional Secretary of the Ministry; Md. Samimuzzaman, Chairman of the Bangladesh Parjatan Corporation; and GM Azizur Rahman, Additional IGP of the Tourist Police. Ms. Fahmida Akter, Secretary of the Ministry of Civil Aviation and Tourism, presided over the event, while Barrister Mutasim Billah Faruqui, CEO of the Bangladesh Tourism Board, delivered the welcome address.
Speaking as the chief guest, the Minister expressed his delight at attending the discussion meeting organized for World Tourism Day 2026. Over the past week, various events were held, including processions, cycle rallies, city tours for underprivileged children, exchanges with tourism stakeholders and foreign diplomats, and exhibitions. He extended sincere thanks to everyone involved—including Members of Parliament, local administration, Tourist Police, the Bangladesh Tourism Board, the Bangladesh Parjatan Corporation, media personnel, and relevant stakeholders—for the successful implementation of the week-long Tourism Day programs across the country.
The Minister further noted that the ‘Bangladesh Tourism Award’ is being presented in 16 categories for the first time, marking a significant recognition of the work done by entrepreneurs and professionals in the sector. The central theme for this year is “Tourism of the Future: Digital Transformation and Artificial Intelligence.” The global tourism sector has entered a new era driven by the rapid advancement of information technology and artificial intelligence. Bangladesh’s tourism sector must also keep pace with these changes and move forward.
The Minister stated that the government’s election manifesto clearly outlines the goal of transforming Bangladesh into an international tourism hub. He is firmly committed to fulfilling this pledge. A National Tourism Council has been formed under the leadership of the Prime Minister, with a target to increase tourism’s contribution to the GDP from the current approximately 3 percent to 6–7 percent. As part of the government’s 180-day action plan, top priority has been given to finalizing the tourism master plan, promoting river and wetland-based tourism, and attracting private investment. Plans are underway to transform Cox’s Bazar into a regional tourism hub, and initiatives have been launched to develop 1,498 tourism spots using a Public-Private Partnership (PPP) model.
Regarding the development of cultural tourism, the Minister noted that Bangladesh’s cultural and historical assets form a cornerstone of its tourism sector. Cultural tourism can be further expanded by integrating archaeological sites, folk traditions, festivals, and the country’s diverse culture into the tourism experience. Consequently, a process is underway to sign a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Ministry of Cultural Affairs to develop cultural tourism centered around the country’s more than 554 archaeological sites.
Addressing private entrepreneurs, the Minister emphasized the need for increased private sector participation alongside the government in developing Bangladesh’s tourism industry. Tourism entrepreneurs, the hotel, motel, and resort sectors, tour operators, and local communities need to be brought together within an integrated framework. To encourage private entrepreneurs, a new, investment-friendly National Tourism Policy 2026 is being formulated.
Concluding his speech, the Minister remarked that there has been no visible progress in the country’s tourism sector over the past 20 years. He urged everyone to move past the failures of the past and work for the country with renewed vigor under the leadership of the current government’s Prime Minister, Mr. Tarique Rahman. Our goal is to build a tourism system where domestic and international tourists alike enjoy a safe, comfortable, and memorable experience. We aim to share the story of Bangladesh’s beauty with the entire world through sustainable tourism. He expressed hope that this event, organized to mark World Tourism Day 2026, would help Bangladesh’s tourism sector become more modern, sustainable, inclusive, and globally competitive by harnessing the power of digital technology and innovation.
Senior officials from the ministry and relevant agencies, including the Chairman of the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Civil Aviation and Tourism, were present at the event.
