DHAKA, Dec 12, 2017 (BSS) – United Nations World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) Secretary General Taleb Rifai has expressed his disappointment as some countries are continuing their travel advisory for Bangladesh.
“This kind of travel advisory is against the spirit of tourism. A travel advisory should be particular within the specific timeframe,” he said when holding a meeting with Bangladesh Civil Aviation and Tourism Minister Rashed Khan Menon in Muscat of Oman on Monday night, according to a message received here today.
The UNWTO chief assured the tourism minister that he would consult with the concern countries to withdraw travel advisory for Bangladesh.
Menon is now in Oman to attend the 2nd UNWTO/UNESCO World Conference on Tourism and Culture: Fostering Sustainable Development.
On the sideline of the conference, Refai hold the meeting with Bangladesh minister where they talked about different issues related to development of tourism industry of Bangladesh.
Refai said the UNWTO is keen to provide all-out support to Bangladesh so that the country with natural beauty and rich heritage can exploit all its potentials to flourish all wings of tourism.
The UNWTO chief greeted Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and expressed gratitude to the Bangladesh government and its people to give shelter to huge numbers of Rohingyas who were forced to flee to Bangladesh from Myanmar.
Rifai also lauded the recent tourism development of Bangladesh and recalled his two visits to Bangladesh to join international Buddhist tourists circuit conference and UNWTO’s regional meeting on Asia and Asia Pacific.
Later Rashed Khan Menon held another meeting with his Omanis counterpart Ahmed Bin Hamed Al Mahrizi. During the meeting, the two tourism ministers discussed various matters related to bilateral issues and mutual interest and agreed to sign a MoU between Bangladesh and Oman on cooperation of tourism development.
The Omanis Minister expressed gratitude to Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and all its people for their noble endeavor in extending support to the Rohingyas who were forced to flee from Rakhine state of Myanmar.
On behalf of the Oman government, he assured all corporations to Bangladesh government in tackling the ongoing Rohingya crisis.
Menon invited the Oman tourism minister to join the OIC tourism minister conference to be held in Dhaka from February 5 to 7 next year.