Shahjahan urges Arab nations to invest in tourism sector

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DHAKA, April 24, 2018 (BSS) – Civil Aviation and Tourism Minister AKM Shahjahan Kamal has urged the Arab nations to make investment in Bangladesh tourism sector considering it as an untapped destinations for global leisure makers.

“Currently, an investment-friendly environment is prevailing in Bangladesh and our government is offering many facilities to global investors for attracting more Foreign Direct Investment (FDI),” he said while speaking at a press conference in Dubai, the UAE on Monday, according to a message received here today.

The minister addressed the local journalists after opening Bangladesh Pavilion at 25th Arabian Travel Market (ATM) in Dubai where 2,936 different tour and travel entities from 68 countries including Bangladesh are participating, one of the largest tourism expositions in Middle East and North Africa.

Shahjahan said Bangladesh is keen to provide all kinds of facilities as well as committed to ensure secured environment for the foreign enterprises those are willing to invest in the tourism sector.

Bangladesh government has already acquired land at Sabrang in Teknaf, one of the exciting tourist destinations of the country, to make exclusive tourist zone only for foreign tourists and currently it is looking for foreign investment to develop the zone, he informed the journalists.

The minister also urged the tour operators of the UAE and other Arab countries to work with Bangladeshi tour operators for creating linkage and network between Bangladesh and Middle Eastern tourism industries.

He observed that tour operators of Bangladesh and Arab nations can develop joint tour packages for global tourists.

“Bangladesh is a place of religious harmony with rich cultural heritage and we welcome tourists of all religions across the globe,” he said.

Bangladesh Ambassador to the UAE Muhammad Imran, Director of Bangladesh Tourism Board (BTB) Nikhil Ranjan Roy and tour operators of Bangladesh attended the press conference.

Bangladesh Tourism Board with the assistance of Bangladesh Consulate General in Dubai organized the Press Conference in the Media Centre of the ATM.

On the sidelines of the fair, Shahjahan also held bilateral meetings with his counterparts of Sri Lanka, Mauritius and the Maldives.