The number of air passengers in the country, both international and domestic, marked a witness in the last five years.
Editor of The Bangladesh Monitor, Kazi Wahidul Alam claimed this on Monday during a press conference at a city hotel on the 15th edition of Dhaka Travel Mart 2018 scheduled to begin from Thursday.
Editor of the travel and tourism publication said during the mentioned period, international air passengers increased by about 22.10 per cent while domestic air passengers increased by about 64.73 per cent.
He said, in 2013, a total of 52,31,580 international travellers travelled through airlines which became 63,88,050 in 2017.
On the other hand, in 2013, the number of domestic air travellers were 6,48,019 which increased to 10,67,537 in 2017, he added.
Alam said the number of air passengers increased due to the addition of three private airlines.
"The private airlines as well as the national flag carrier Biman played a key role in the rise", added he, as per information obtained from a UNB report.
Alam also claimed the increasing air passengers have geared up country's tourism.
General Manager Marketing and Sales, Biman Bangladesh Airlines, Atique Rahman Chisty, was also present among others.
The three-day 15th international travel and tourism fair, 'Dhaka Travel Mart-2018', will begin at Pan Pacific Sonargaon Hotel in the city on Thursday in a bid to unlock the country's tourism potential.
Visitors will be able to visit the fair from 10 am to 7:30 pm every day from Thursday to Saturday paying an entry fee of Tk 30.
