The government is working on easing the visa procedure for foreign tourists, aiming to boost the country's travel and leisure industry.
"We have to ease our visa procedure system to attract more foreign tourists ... we are working on it keeping tourism potentials in our mind," State Minister for Civil Aviation and Tourism M Mahbub Ali said.
He made the remark on Thursday while inaugurating the country's oldest flagship tourism fair, 'Dhaka Mart' at a city hotel.
The state minister said his ministry would arrange an inter-ministerial meeting comprising all tourism stakeholders to review the progress of ongoing efforts on easing to get Bangladesh tourist visa.
Ali said the seven Indian south-western states, popularly called as Seven Sisters, as well as landlocked neighbours Nepal and Bhutan don't have any sea beaches, reports BSS.
"So, if we can make their entry to Bangladesh easy, we will get many tourists from these neighbouring countries," he added.
"We want foreign tourists will come to Bangladesh on a cruise ship while his or her immigration procedure to be completed inside the ship," he added.
Ali hoped that the new terminal at Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport (HSIA), metro rail, Padma Bridge, and upgrading of Cox's Bazar airport into an international one would give a boost to the country's travel and leisure industry.
"We are working on making a master plan to flourish our tourism industry as per international standard in a coordinated and planned way," he added.
The 17th edition of the three-day fair this year titled "Triplover Dhaka Mart-2022 (DTM-2022)" began with the participation of 50 travel and leisure service providers after a gap of two years due to the pandemic.
Bangladesh Monitor, the country's leading travel and tourism fortnightly newspaper, organised the fair that will remain open from 10:00 am to 8:00 pm every day.
This year, the objective of the Dhaka Mart is to accelerate the recovery stage of the country's travel and tourism sector following the devastating effect of the COVID-19 Pandemic, Bangladesh Monitor Editor Kazi Wahidul Alam said.
Different airlines, tour operators, hotels, resorts, travel agencies, online travel agencies, and healthcare service providers from home and abroad will take part in the fair with a wide range of offers and discounts.
The Online travel agency Triplover and US-Bangladesh Airlines came as sponsor and co-sponsor of the Mart respectively while Biman Bangladesh Airlines, Bangladesh Tourism Board (BTB) and Bangladesh Parjatan Corporation (BPC) joined hands as partners.
On the sideline, a seminar styled "Prospect of Bangladesh as a Regional Aviation Hub" will be held at the last day of fair where country's top aviation regulators and operators are expected to attend.
