Bangladesh Economic Zones Authority (BEZA) is setting up three tourism parks at Cox's Bazar district aiming to create 200,000 employment opportunities.
BEZA Executive Chairman Paban Chowdhury said it on Tuesday in Dhaka.
"We are planning to set up three tourism parks to welcome tourists from across the world in the country. Every year, the parks are likely to create opportunities for additional two billion dollar economic activities," said he.
The three tourism parks are Sabrang Tourism Park, Naf Tourism Park (Jaliardwip) and Sonadia Eco Tourism Park.
Paban also said through the parks, Bangladesh may improve its travel and tourism competiveness ranking to double digit from the existing position.
As per the Travel and Tourism Competiveness index 2015 ranking the current position of Bangladesh is a dismal 127.
He said land and road development and bridge construction works are going in a quicker pace to implement the three tourism parks in the area.
The development work is likely to be completed in 2018, he added.
Paban Chowdhury said Sabrang Tourism Park will be the first exclusive tourism park in the Cox's Bazar district.
It can have different kinds of industries, including hotel complex, sports and extreme ride and water tourism, he added.
BSS says that the park is well located with exclusive beach front and it takes half an hour from Sea cruise to St Martin-a coral island. The park is only eight kilometres away from Teknaf land port and two hours’ drive to Cox's Bazar Airport.
The Naf Tourism Park (Jaliardwip) will be in the middle of the Naf River in the Southern part of Bangladesh.
The park is an island of 291 acres of land.
The island is 450 kilometres away from capital Dhaka and 185 kilometres from Chittagong city. But it is only 60 kilometres from Cox's Bazar airport.
There is a plan to invest around Tk 25 billion for the overall development of this park, said Paban Chowdhury.
He said BEZA is in consultation with different stakeholders to set up Sonadia Eco Tourism Park.
