World Tourism Day today

Tourism is one of the major sources of income for the people living in the rural world as it helps them to hold onto their unique cultural heritage and traditions, and at the same time acts as an auxiliary in safeguarding habitat and endangered species.

Due to the Covid-19 pandemic, the tourism scenario of the world has changed. Giving priority on rural development this year, World Tourism Day is being celebrated today (Sept 27) across the world. Tourism has the capacity to unite people, which will play an important role in global cooperation in fighting job losses due to the pandemic.

Tourism is a leading provider of employment and opportunities in the countless rural communities around the world. Due to Covid-19 pandemic, the industry had been hard hit. Also in many rural places, tourism is one of the few feasible economic sectors.

Like other countries in the world, Bangladesh has also chalked out various colourful programmes to celebrate the World Tourism Day 2020 with the global theme ‘Tourism and Rural Development.

President Abdul Hamid and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina have issued separate messages on the occasion of the day.

In his message, President M Abdul Hamid said, “Tourism industry has established itself as the single largest service sector in the world due to its multidimensionality and scope and it plays a very important role in improving the living standards of the rural population.”

The tourism sector has significant contribution to the national economy including job creation, he said, adding that the World Tourism Organization has put emphasis on involving the rural population in the tourism industry to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

“I hope that with proper planning, efficient resource management and involvement of local people, Bangladesh will be able to reach the pinnacle of the development of tourism industry,” the President said.

There is a huge potential for the development of tourism industry in Bangladesh, Hamid said, adding, by utilizing the potentiality, along with attracting domestic and foreign investment, the rural population should be given the opportunity to participate in the development of the country’s tourism industry.

At the same time, country’s tourism industry should be effectively represented in the world arena, he said, adding, “I urge all, including government and non-government organizations to work together for the development of the tourism industry as well as for the national economic development upholding local culture, traditions and values.”

In her message, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina said, “I am delighted that the World Tourism Day 2020 is going to be observed in Bangladesh as elsewhere in the world on 27 September with the theme -Tourism and Rural Development-.”

The theme announced by the United Nation World Tourism Organization marking the day this year is very much in line with the government initiative “Village will be City” in forefront of the development, she added.

Noting that Bangladesh is a land of scenic beauty with rich culture and heritage, the premier said, “Tourism has a huge potentiality in Bangladesh. Of late, it has emerged as an important sector of economic development with more and more domestic and foreign tourists are visiting the country’s tourists’ destinations.”

Huge employment opportunities are being created in the sector, Sheikh Hasina said, adding, the present Awami League government has relentlessly been working for the development of tourism sector and taken various steps to manage tourism activities through proper management maintaining the country’s culture, heritage and ecology.

Underscoring the need for making the tourist destinations introduced to local and foreign tourists through mass media, she urged the private entrepreneurs to supplement the government efforts in flourishing the sector.

“Let’s work together and build a ‘Golden Bangladesh (Sonar Bangla)’ as dreamt by Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman,” the Prime Minister said.