BSS-12 BEZA eyes 2 lakh employments, US $ 2 billion economic activities in three tourism parks

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BSS-12

BEZA-TOURISM-PARK

BEZA eyes 2 lakh employments, US $ 2 billion economic activities in three tourism parks

DHAKA, Dec 26, 2017 (BSS) – Bangladesh Economic Zones Authority (BEZA) is setting up three tourism parks at Cox’s Bazar district with a target to create two lakh employments.

“We are planning to set up three tourism parks to welcome tourists from across the world in the country. Every year, the parks are likely to create opportunities for additional two billion dollar economic activities,” BEZA Executive Chairman Paban Chowdhury told BSS here today.

The three tourism parks are Sabrang Tourism Park, Naf Tourism Park (Jaliardwip) and Sonadia Eco Tourism Park. Through the development of tourism parks, Paban Chowdhury said, BEZA thinks that Bangladesh will improve its travel and tourism competiveness ranking to double digit from the existing 127 position, as per the Travel and Tourism Competiveness index 2015 ranking.

He said land and road development and bridge construction works are going in a quicker pace to implement the three tourism parks in the area. The development work is likely to be completed in 2018, he added.

Paban Chowdhury said Sabrang Tourism Park will be the first exclusive tourism park in the Cox’s Bazar district encompassing an area of 1027 acres.

“It is an amazing hill and sea beach territory, multifaceted diverse and admirably beautiful. The purest air, lofty hill, sea and lagoon create perfect conditions for the development of all types of tourism and entertainment,” he added.

He said “different kinds of industries, including hotel complex, eco-tourism, recreational tourism, business tourism, sports and extreme ride, water tourism, education and health tourism, can be set up in the park”.

The park is well located with exclusive beach front and it takes half an hour from Sea cruise to St Martin-a coral island. The park is only eight kilometers away from Teknaf land port and 2 hours drive to Cox’s Bazar Airport.

The Naf Tourism Park (Jaliardwip) is an amazing island in the middle of the Naf River and it lies in the Southern part of Bangladesh. This park is an island of 291 acres of land. The lofty hill and river have created a perfect condition for the island to be a world-class tourist destination.

The island is 450 kilometers away from capital Dhaka and 185 kilometers from Chittagong city. But it is only 60 kilometers from Cox’s Bazar airport.

The facilities will include five star hotel, hanging bridge, 9.5 kilometers of cable car network, floating jetty, children’s park, an eco-cottage, oceanarium and water-restaurants.

The park is expected to create direct and indirect jobs for 20,000 people.

There is a plan to invest around Taka 2500 crore for the overall development of this park, said Paban Chowdhury.

He said BEZA is in consultation with different stakeholders to set up Sonadia Eco Tourism Park.

BSS/SPL/KUC/QC/1720 hrs