The Bangladesh Minister of Civil Aviation and Tourism, who was present during ITB Berlin mentions: "We must improve our channels of communication"
BERLIN- Present during ITB Berlin, Bangladesh is still suffering from a deficit of image. Despite the wealth of eco-destinations and cultural sites offered by the country. Bangladesh Minister of Civil Aviation and Tourism, Muhammad Farud Khan explains what will be the country’s strategy to raise more awareness among travellers and the trade industry.
TravelDailyNews: Why remains Bangladesh a relatively unknown destination?
Muhammad Farud Khan: They are many wrong perceptions among travellers due to many unfair reporting from media, which generally portrait only Bangladesh from its negative side. Let’s take flooding for example. They always make headlines around the world when they are natural to us. We have been living with floods for thousands of years and we know how to deal with it. Floods are necessary to our agriculture as it brings silts from Himalayas which fertilize our lands.
TDN: Does this weak image only come from media reporting?
M.F.K.: must also admit that we have to improve our communication channels to raise awareness among travellers. We are present at twelve travel shows in Berlin, London but also in China or Singapore. This is however true that we need to have a more dynamic website with more news provided to media. Another weak point that we have to address is the lack of direct air flights, especially from Europe. We still need more European flights. But our national airline Biman Bangladesh has a good network to the rest of Asia with flights to Bangkok, Hong Kong, India, Kuala Lumpur, Singapore as well as Kathmandu and Karachi. Due to the concentration of flights towards Asia, the vast majority of our international visitors come from this region.
TDN: How many international travellers come to Bangladesh?
M.F.K.: The country has 1.1 million of international visitors per year including 310,000 being accounted as a tourist according to UNWTO definition.
TDN: What would you like to promote?
M.F.K.: We want to emphasize eco and sustainable tourism. I see three major reasons for travellers to visit us: the Sundarbarbans region is home to 400 iconic Bengali tigers, living in one of the world’s largest mangrove forest; Cox’s Bazar with a pristine beach stretching over 100 miles, the longest in the world. And Ialso want to encourage tourists to know our people, one of our best tourism’s assets. Foreign visitors will be amazed by the genuine kindness and deep sense of hospitality of our fellow citizens.
TDN: How about heritage?
M.F.K.: We have been at crossroads of cultures for centuries with a unique blend of cultures and religions. Before Islam, we were first Buddhist and then Hinduist. We offer today beautiful temples, mosques. Few travellers know but we have one of the largest and oldest Buddhist monastic site in Mainamati, near the city of Comilla. It is today home of one of South Asia’s most important Buddhist archaeological sites. Mahasthangarh is Bangladesh’s oldest archaeological site with a citadel and temple vestiges dating as far as the 3rd century. Paharpur is also another monumental temple.
TDN: Are you looking to cooperate more with Myanmar, your Eastern neighbour which is now fully opened to tourism?
M.F.K.: We work more closely with Myanmar authorities to improve communication channels between our countries. I can already announced that our national carrier Biman Bangladesh will soon open a flight linking Yangon to Dhaka. This will help to set up packages especially as they are very strong cultural and ethnic links between our countries.
Luc Citrinot a French national is a freelance journalist and consultant in tourism and air transport with over 20 years experience. Based in Paris and Bangkok, he works for various travel and air transport trade publications in Europe and Asia.
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