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Govt to mark World Tourism Day with AI, digital focus
Daily Sun Report, Dhaka
Published: 26 Sep 2026, 01:34 PM
Govt to mark World Tourism Day with AI, digital focus. Photo: Kamrul Islam Ratan
The government will observe World Tourism Day 2026 with a week-long programme focused on digital transformation and artificial intelligence (AI) in the tourism sector from September 27 to October 3.
The Bangladesh Tourism Board organised a press conference on Saturday to brief the media on the celebrations and programmes planned for World Tourism Day.
Barrister Mutasim Billah Faruqui, chief executive officer of the Bangladesh Tourism Board; Md Abdur Rouf, additional secretary of the Ministry of Civil Aviation and Tourism; Fahmida Akhtar, secretary of the ministry; and Md Shamimuzzaman, chairman of Bangladesh Parjatan Corporation, attended the press conference.
The Ministry of Civil Aviation and Tourism has organised a series of events under this year’s global theme, “Digital Agenda and Artificial Intelligence to Redesign Tourism”.
The Bangladesh Tourism Board, Bangladesh Parjatan Corporation, Tourist Police and other government agencies, along with hotels, resorts, tour operators, travel agents, universities and other private-sector stakeholders, will join the celebrations.
The programme will begin on September 27 with a rally at Parjatan Bhaban in West Agargaon at 9am. A bicycle rally will follow at 9:30am, while Bangladesh Parjatan Corporation will organise a city tour at 9:40am for underprivileged children to visit tourist attractions in Dhaka.
An exchange-of-views meeting with tourism stakeholders will be held on September 28 at Parjatan Bhaban, while a separate meeting with diplomats from source countries is scheduled for September 30 to discuss cooperation and inbound tourism.
The main World Tourism Day programme will be held on October 3 at the Bangladesh-China Friendship Conference Centre in Sher-e-Bangla Nagar.
Twelve thematic exhibition stalls will showcase Bangladesh’s traditional culture, cuisine, geographical indication (GI) products, handicrafts, handloom and textiles, ethnic minority heritage and tourist destinations.
AI-based displays will also be used to demonstrate tourism experiences, including virtual time travel to destinations and destination photography, according to the organisers.
A discussion seminar on “Digital Agenda and Artificial Intelligence to Redesign Tourism” will begin at 3pm on the same day. Barrister Mutasim Billah Faruqui will deliver the welcome address, while Dr Mohammad Ruhul Amin, associate professor at the University of Dhaka’s Department of Tourism and Hospitality Management, will present the keynote paper.
The programme will also feature the launch of the Bangladesh Tourism Award 2026, being introduced for the first time to recognise contributions to sustainable tourism, service quality, innovation, digital transformation, community engagement and the preservation of environmental and cultural heritage.
The awards will be presented in 13 categories to individuals, organisations, entrepreneurs and tourism initiatives.
M Rashiduzzaman Millat, minister for civil aviation and tourism, will attend the discussion as chief guest. State Minister for Cultural Affairs Ali Newaz Mahmud Khaiyum and Parliamentary Standing Committee Chairman Abul Kalam Azad Siddiqui will attend as special guests.
The week-long celebrations will conclude with a cultural performance organised in collaboration with the Bangladesh Shilpakala Academy.