Mahbub asks local authorities to maintain tourism infrastructure

State minister for civil aviation and tourism Md Mahbub Ali on Thursday asked local administrations to pay attention to tourism infrastructure.

"Along with maintaining tourism infrastructure, we must protect the environment as well while building new facilities for the tourists," he said.

The junior minister gave the instructions while speaking at a virtual workshop with representatives of local administration and tourism related stakeholders of Rajbari district.

The Bangladesh Tourism Board (BTB), the country's National Tourism Organisation (NTO), organised the workshop as part of its ongoing initiatives to integrate tourism into local development as well as create mass awareness about tourism potentials.

Mentioning that the country's rivers is one of the Bangladesh's tourist attractions, Ali said the government is taking initiatives to develop 'river-tourism' through introducing various water sports activities including water riding and boating along with river cruise facilities.

The state minister also said the BTB is working to ensure presence of both international and local tourists in different traditional fairs, those have been long held in Rajbari district.

Besides, the BTB will work in partnership with Rajbari local administration to develop riverine tourism infrastructure along the bank of Padma river in the district.

BTB Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Javed Ahmed and Rajbari deputy district commissioner Dilshad Begum also spoke at the workshop, among others.