World Tourism Organization meet begins ‘to showcase Chittagong’

A joint meeting of the World Tourism Organization or UNWTO's commissions for East Asia and the Pacific (CAP) and South Asia (CSA) has started in Chittagong.

Chittagong Bureaubdnews24.com
Published : 15 May 2017, 07:55 PM
Updated : 15 May 2017, 07:55 PM

UNWTO Regional Forum on Crisis Communication has also joined the 29th meeting of the commissions, or 29th CAP-CSA, at Radisson Blu Chittagong Bay View hotel.

Civil Aviation and Tourism Minister Rashed Khan Menon said at a press conference after the meeting started on Monday that the three-day conference would Brighten Bangladesh's image in the international arena.

"The natural beauties of Chittagong with green hills, rivers and shoreline will be showcased before the world, which will give fresh impetus to only tourism, but also to investment and trade," he said.     

As many as 300 ministers, secretaries, top government officials, observers and other stakeholders of the tourism sector from 21 CAP and nine CSA countries are attending the meeting.

According to Menon, "The tourism sector employed 1.3 million people  in 2014 and it will go up to 3.3 million in 2035."‎

In 2014, a total of 9 million tourists travelled in Bangladesh using civil aviation and the number is expected to rise to 21 million in 2035, according to the minister.

Information Minister Hasanul Haque Inu was also present at the press conference. He urged Bangladeshis to explore new tourist spots. "Foreigners will also come once the locals start visiting these sites," he said.

Civil Aviation and Tourism Secretary SM Ghulam Farooque and Bangladesh Tourism Board CEO Nasir Uddin were also present at the press conference.