Six-year-old tourism masterplan stuck in review, changes on the way
Some tourist locations may be swapped out, with new ones added
Masterplan targets
- Aims to attract 55.7 lakh foreign tourists by 2041, up from 5–6 lakh
- Envisions creating 2.2 crore jobs, up from current 50 lakh
- Proposes forming 10 tourism clusters costing $1.08b
- $105.5 million on infrastructure
The grand masterplan for the country's tourism sector, initiated six years ago, has yet to be implemented.
Launched by the Bangladesh Tourism Board in 2019, the plan has remained confined to paperwork due to delays, bureaucratic tangles, the Covid-19 pandemic, and a change of government, leaving it unable to secure final approval.
After the interim government took office, the tourism ministry sent the plan back to the Tourism Board for review. That review is still ongoing, and sources at the Board have hinted that significant changes may follow.
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Industry insiders stress that a masterplan is essential for the comprehensive development of a country's tourism sector. In its absence, projects are being implemented in a piecemeal and uncoordinated fashion. Unless the plan is implemented quickly, they warn, disorganisation will grow, and Bangladesh will fall further behind its neighbours.
Tourism Board Chief Executive Officer Nuzhat Yasmin told TBS, "The consultants tasked with preparing the masterplan have completed their work and submitted it to us. It is now awaiting approval from the National Tourism Council. Before approval, it is undergoing review. Some amendments are needed, and that process is underway."
She added, "A committee, headed by the CEO of the Tourism Board, has been formed to carry out the review. The committee has held several meetings and will hold more. We are trying to finalise it quickly and get it approved by the board."
Asked how long the review would take, she said, "It will take a few months, but it's too early to say exactly how many. The work is being done thoroughly and on a broad scale."
What changes are coming?
According to Tourism Board sources, during the previous government's tenure, the masterplan identified around 1,498 natural and tourism sites across the country.
Our recommendations will focus on making destinations tourist-friendly while preserving their original character and uniqueness
Some locations may be swapped out, with new ones added. For example, a July Uprising Memorial Museum may be included, while the Dhanmondi 32 museum might be dropped. Plans for the Gopalganj area may also be scaled back.
"Our recommendations will focus on making destinations tourist-friendly while preserving their original character and uniqueness," said Tourism Board CEO Nuzhat Yasmin.
Tourism Board records show that Indian consultancy firm IPE Global was awarded the task of preparing the plan in 2019. Work formally began on 1 January 2020. Although the project, with a budget of Tk28.66 crore, was scheduled for completion by June that year, the Covid-19 pandemic pushed the deadline back to December 2022.
Finally, in June 2023, the draft plan was completed. But without National Tourism Council approval, it has not taken effect.
Masterplan targets
The plan aims to attract 55.7 lakh foreign tourists by 2041. In recent years, Bangladesh has drawn only about 5–6 lakh foreign passport holders annually.
It also envisions creating about 2.2 crore jobs, up from the current 50 lakh-plus direct and indirect employment in the sector.
The plan proposes forming 10 tourism clusters, requiring $1.08 billion in public and private investment. Of this, the government would spend about $105.5 million on infrastructure such as roads, electricity, and security, while the private sector would build star-rated hotels, resorts, theme parks, and luxury facilities.
Mohiuddin Helal, a tourism entrepreneur and director of the Bangladesh Parjatan Corporation board, told TBS, "A masterplan or strategic plan provides a roadmap for what needs to be done and where. An action plan can then be developed around it. The private sector has been waiting a long time for this plan."
Highlighting the lack of coordination in the absence of a masterplan, he said, "For example, the Cox's Bazar Development Authority is working on its own masterplan, while the Tourism Board's plan is still in limbo. Meanwhile, the Bangladesh Economic Zones Authority (Beza) is developing tourism parks. Coordination with Bida is also needed. We need holistic development."
