The government has plans to develop international standard tourism facilities in three districts—Rangpur, Chandpur, and Cox’s Bazar—to attract foreign tourists to explore Bangladesh.
Finance Minister Abul Hassan Mahmood Ali announced this plan while presenting the proposed budget for the fiscal year 2024-25 in the National Parliament on Thursday.
“To enrich the tourism sector, tourist centres are being constructed at Parki in Chattogram, Hatia and Nijhum Dwip in Noakhali, and Mahananda in Chapainawabganj. We also have plans to develop international standard tourism facilities in Rangpur, Chandpur, and Cox’s Bazar,” he said in his budget speech.
Mahmood Ali said about developing 78 eco-tourism, heritage tourism, and business tourism sites across the country.
“To develop these areas, we have adopted plans to construct tourist facilities at Tanguar Haor, Nijhum Dwip, Sharankhola in the Sundarbans, Sompur Mahavihar in Paharpur, and a tourism complex at the Mawa end of the Padma Bridge,” he added.
Discussing the 25-year Tourism Master Plan, the minister mentioned that it will serve as a comprehensive roadmap to revitalise Bangladesh’s tourism sector, projecting a contribution of $4.77 billion to the national economy by 2041.
Meanwhile, tour operators and owners of amusement and theme parks have expressed frustration over the proposal of increasing VAT on the sector. They said it will heavily impact the tourism industry and related businesses, which are already struggling to attract local and foreign tourists amid poor policy support.
The former president of the Tour Operators Association of Bangladesh stated that they are already paying VAT to the government through various services.
He urged the finance minister to adopt a more protective stance to boost tourism. “We are already paying VAT while receiving services. This imposition of an additional 15% VAT is completely unnecessary. It will hinder the progress of this growing sector and discourage young entrepreneurs,” he said.
Dream Holiday Park Managing Director Prabir Kumar Shaha said that the increase in VAT from 7.5% to 15% will burden common people. “Nowadays, people from limited income groups also visit theme parks and recreation centres. These parks help people escape the monotony of everyday life. If they stop visiting, it will affect their mental health and our business,” he added.