Tourism fair draws 45,000 visitors, generates Tk43cr

The three-day Bangladesh Travel and Tourism Fair (BTTF) 2026 attracted around 45,000 visitors and generated nearly Tk43 crore in sales and business transactions, reflecting growing interest in the country’s tourism sector.
Organised by the Tour Operators Association of Bangladesh (TOAB), the 14th edition of the fair concluded on Saturday at Crowne Plaza Dhaka Airport, with artificial intelligence (AI) and sustainable tourism among the key themes.
The event brought together tourism organisations and industry representatives from 20 countries, creating opportunities for business networking, knowledge sharing and investment.
Biman Bangladesh Airlines and US-Bangla Airlines reported strong ticket sales during the fair, according to the organisers.
Civil Aviation and Tourism Minister M Rashiduzzaman Millat attended the closing ceremony as the chief guest. Senior government officials, tourism industry representatives, airline executives and other stakeholders were also present.
Speaking at the event, the minister said Bangladesh had significant tourism potential and that the government was working to improve connectivity through expansion of the aviation sector.
He said the government had already developed a tourism master plan focusing on better regulation of hotels and resorts, technology adoption and sustainable development.
Solar panels had been installed at resorts to address electricity shortages, while training programmes had been introduced for young people through the National Hotel and Tourism Training Institute (NHTTI), he added.

The minister stressed the need for greater use of technology in destination management, tourist safety, waste management, environmental monitoring and emergency services.
He said digital information services and smart monitoring systems, supported by effective regulation, could make tourist destinations safer and more sustainable.
Earlier, a seminar titled “AI for Sustainable Tourism Operation” was held at the Bangladesh-China Friendship Conference Centre, the fair’s main venue.
The seminar was chaired by TOAB First Vice President Syed Safat Uddin Ahmed, while Swadeshi Communications CEO Syed Sajjat Hossain Mahmud presented the keynote paper.
Speakers discussed how AI could improve tourism services, including customer enquiries, booking management, pricing, travel planning and hospitality, while helping overcome language barriers.
They also highlighted AI’s potential to manage overcrowding at tourist destinations, support local businesses, improve aviation fuel efficiency and reduce tourism’s environmental impact.
However, they said effective AI adoption would require reliable data, skilled workers, better infrastructure and stronger public-private partnerships.
The speakers emphasised that technology should complement, rather than replace, the human elements of tourism, including hospitality, personal interaction and cultural experiences.