TOURISM INDUSTRY IN BANGLADESH

2

Table of contents

1. Introduction ..................................................... 3

2. Bangladesh at a glance ................................... 4

2.1. Geography...................................................................................... 4

2.2. Climate ........................................................................................... 5

2.3. History............................................................................................ 6

2.4. Population ...................................................................................... 7

2.5. National economy.......................................................................... 9

2.6. Travel advice for Bangladesh..................................................... 11

3. Tourist destinations........................................ 14

3.1. The four main tourist divisions.................................................. 14

3.2. The two secondary tourist divisions .......................................... 17

3.3. Status for tourist attractions ...................................................... 18

3.4. Potential ....................................................................................... 21

4. Target groups.................................................. 22

4.1. Inbound tourists .......................................................................... 22

4.2. The local middle and high class ................................................. 24

4.3. The expatriate community ......................................................... 26

4.4. Future tourist demand................................................................ 28

4.5. Potential ....................................................................................... 29

5. The upcoming tourist industry ........................31

5.1. Transportation .............................................................................31

5.2. Accommodation, restaurants and night life ..............................33

5.3. Tour operators .............................................................................35

5.4. How is Bangladesh sold ...............................................................36

5.5. The future Bangladeshi tourist supply.......................................38

5.6. The potential of the tourism industry ........................................39

6. Executive summary.........................................44

7. Reference ........................................................47

8. Appendix .........................................................51

8.1. Tourist arrivals (in thousands) ...................................................51

8.2. Tourism revenue (in millions US$).............................................51

8.3. Players in the local tourism business..........................................51

8.4. Prices in Bangladesh....................................................................53

8.5. SWOT analysis of the Bangladeshi tourism sector...................56

8.5.1. Strengths________________________________________________ 56

8.5.2. Weaknesses______________________________________________ 58

8.5.3. Opportunities ____________________________________________ 60

8.5.4. Threats _________________________________________________ 61

8.6. Contact information ....................................................................62

3

1. Introduction

The country of Bangladesh is most known internationally

through newspaper headlines for its poor population,

corruption and several natural disasters. These problems

are real and their side effects have a fundamental impact

on the society.

Reality however is not as devastating as indicated by the

image of the country since the national economy is

improving, population growth has slowed down, poverty

seems to be abating, and a nationwide nature warning

system functions effectively. Further more Bangladesh is

nowadays standing at a political crossroad as a temporary

government since October 2006 has introduced reforms to

eliminate corruption and public inefficiency.

This paper is written by Majbritt Thomsen, Danish MA in

Tourism living in Bangladesh since October 2007, for the

Danish Embassy in Dhaka, Bangladesh. The photo

material illustrating life in Bangladesh is provided by

Emile Mahabub, Majbritt Thomsen and Casper

Magnussen.

The subject matter for this paper provides an introduction

to the Bangladeshi tourist sector with a primary focus on

its general status and development potential. It is

specifically hoped that this paper will increase the interest

of the Danish tourism business in Bangladesh as well as

draw the attention to the development possibilities

through the DANIDA B2B programme.

4

2. Bangladesh at a glance

The main information sources in this chapter are Lonely

Planet Bangladesh (2004), Banglapedia (2006) and

Encyclopedia of the Nations (2008).

2.1. Geography

Bangladesh is located in the tropics in South Asia and has

a total area of 147,570 sq. km, which is about three times

the size of Denmark. It shares its borders with India on

the west and north and Myanmar (Burma) on the east. On

the south, 66,400 kilometres of coastline merge into the

Bay of Bengal. Bangladesh is a part of the Bengal basin

which is one of the most seismically active zones of the

world. However, no major earthquake has occurred in

Bangladesh since 1950.1

Topographically, the country is almost entirely a fertile

alluvial plain formed by the two main rivers, the Ganges

and the Brahmaputra and their hundreds of tributaries.

1 The Sustainable Development Networking Programme (SDNP)

(2005a)

5

Hills rise above the plain only in the Chittagong Hill Tracts

in the far southeast and the Sylhet division in the

northeast.

The worlds largest littoral mangrove belt, The

Sundarbans, covers an area of nearly 3600 sq km in the

south western part of Bangladesh and another 2400 sq

km in east India. About 10 % of Bangladesh is still

forested. Half of the forest is in the Chittagong Hill Tracts,

a quarter in the Sundarbans, and the rest scattered in

small pockets throughout the country.

The country is divided in the following six divisions:

Rajshahi, Sylhet, Chittagong, Khulna, Dhaka and Barisal

Division, all named after their respective capitals. The

capital city, Dhaka, with over 10 million citizens (2001) is

located in the central part of the country.

2.2. Climate

Bangladesh has a subtropical and tropical climate with

three main seasons: the 'wet' season from late May to early

October; the 'cold' season from mid-October to the end of

February; and the 'hot' season from mid-March to mid-

May. Days average 25 C in January, 35 C in April and

linger around the 30C mark for most of the year.

Annual rainfall varies from 1000 mm in the west to 5000

mm in the north. 75 % of the annual rainfall occurs

between June and September, in this period normally

humidity is between 90 % and 95 %.

Eighty percent of Bangladesh is less than 1.5 metres

above sea level and every year during the monsoon season

the rivers flood half the country to a depth of 30 cm.

6

The floods, which last for several months, have the

environmental benefit of bringing fertile silt, but cause

great disruption.

The best season for travelling in Bangladesh is between

October and February. Early March can still be pleasant,

but by April the humidity increases and lethal hailstorms

arent uncommon. On average, the country gets hit by one

major cyclone every three years. The worst times for

cyclones are May to June and October to November.

2.3. History

Through different invasions, the area of Bangladesh was

influenced by Buddhism, Hinduism and Muslim until the

17th century. The Portuguese, Dutch, British and French

then tussled for decades for influence over the

subcontinent; the British East India Company prevailed.

At the end of the European colonialism the British divided

their Indian colony on religious grounds. India was

dominated by the Hindu population, and Muslims

dominated East and West Pakistan (now Bangladesh and

Pakistan).

7

The two Muslim regions had little in common as they were

separated by more than 1500 km of Indian Territory and

spoke two different languages. In 1971 Bangladesh,

literally land of the Bangla speakers, emerged as an

independent and sovereign country following a destructive

and violent nine-month liberation war.

Numerous military coups followed but in the 1990s the

establishment of a civil government brought in political

stabilization as well as a comprehensive corruption in the

private, public and political sector.

Bangladesh has developed into a democratic Muslim state.

Politically and economically the country is orientated to

the western society while as the same time attention is

given to the religious relationship to other Muslim

countries, especially in the Middle East. Furthermore a

linguistic, cultural and historical relationship exists

between the 230 million Bangla speakers in the world,

living primary in Bangladesh and India.2

Since January 2007 Bangladesh has been in a state of

emergency, as the legitimate temporary government has

suspended certain fundamental rights to fight corruption

2 Banglapedia (2006)

and other crimes. The political situation is referred to as a

window of opportunity and the government has

announced elections in late 2008.

2.4. Population

The Bangladeshi population is relatively homogeneous.

The national language, Bangla, is spoken by over 98 % of

the population, while other ethnic groups, including

various tribal groups, make up the remaining 2 percent.

8

Religion also plays an important role in the society,

Muslims make up about 83%, and Hindus 16 %, Buddhist

and Christian are religious minorities.

Bangladesh is one of the most densely populated countries

in the world with its population of over 140 million. It is a

relatively young population, as nearly 60 percent are

under the age of 25 and only 3 percent 65 or older.

Average birth rate is around three, compared to seven in

the 1970s, and life expectancy at birth is 61 years. Almost

two-thirds of the population is illiterate. English is, except

in Dhaka, little spoken and understood in the towns and

hardly at all up-country.

The country is also one of the poorest in the world. GNI pr.

capita in 2006 was only 480 USD3 and a huge inequality

gulf exists in the society. The poorest 40 percent of the

population are living below the poverty line controlling just

20.7 percent of the wealth. Meanwhile the wealthiest 20

percent of the population control 42.8 percent of the

wealth.4 A small growing middle class accounts for 9

percent of the population, or 13 million people. In Pakistan

and India the middle class are estimated to a total of 18

percent and 30 percent, respectively.5

Urban population is growing rapidly especially in Dhaka,

Chittagong, Khulna, and Rajshahi. Bangladesh was

almost completely a rural-agrarian country until 1951

with only 4 percent living in urban areas. By 2001 the

3 DANIDA (2008)

4 Encyclopedia of the Nations (2007c)

5 International Herald Time (2006)

9

level of urbanization was 23 % and by 2025 this level is

estimated to reach 40%6.

2.5. National economy

For several years the Bangladeshi GNP has shown a 5-6

pct. growth, but the economy, including the financial

sector, is still facing important challenges. The country is

heavily dependent on imported technologies; further more

proper planning is required for its effective transfer

through acquisition, assimilation and adoption.7

The agriculture and labour-intensive manufacturing are

the two major pillars of the national economy. Major

exports are garments, jute and jute goods, tea, leather and

leather products, frozen fish, and seafood.

The structure of the economy however has changed

gradually. Between 1970 and 1999 the agricultural

contribution to the GNP declined from 55 to 31.6 percent,

while the production of manufactured goods increased

from 9 to 19.3 percent.8

6 Sustainable Development Networking Programme (SDNP) (2005b)

7 Discovery Bangladesh (2008)

8 Encyclopedia of the Nations (2007b)

An important reason for this change was a political and

social stability introduced in the 1990s which increased

the overseas competitiveness of the local industries as well

as attracted foreign aid, political representation and

foreign investments. Permanently present in the country

are 40 Foreign Representations and Embassies9, 93

International Organizations/NGO, and 33 Business

9 See captor 4.3.

10

Associations/Consultants Multinationals10. Latest sources

(2003-2004) show that Bangladesh had a total of 127

Foreign Investments Registrations, shared equally between

Developed and Developing Economies. Foreign aid was the

equivalent of 6.7 US$ pr. capita in 2004.11

Bangladesh is a pioneer in the world of Microcredit with

one of the largest number of microfinance institutions and

highest penetration rates in the world. Microcredit pioneer

and founder of Grameen Bank, Bengali Muhammad

Yunus, won the Nobel Peace Prize in 2006. His innovative

banking program has for over 30 years provided poor

people with small loans they use to launch businesses and

lift their families out of poverty.

10 DAWC Yellow Pages (2005)

11 Workpremit.com (2007)

Tourism has since the 1990s been a small but rapidly

growing sector of the economy.12 In 2007 the employment

in the Bangladeshi Travel & Tourism Industry was

estimated at 752.000 jobs or 1.2% of total employment.

The industry was expected to contribute 1.5% to Gross

Domestic Product (GDP) in 2007 or US$ 998.2 million13.

12 Encyclopedia of the Nations (2007a)

13 World Travel & Tourism Council (2007a)

11

2.6. Travel advice for Bangladesh

Citizens of all countries need visa to enter Bangladesh.

General advice is to obtain the visa in the home country,

although it can also be attained on arrival and in a few

embassies and consulates in neighboring countries.14

14 Wikitravel.com (2008b)

Local laws reflect the fact that Bangladesh is a

predominantly Muslim country. Furthermore centuries of

isolation, even when foreign powers ruled, have produced

people, customers and values that are typical Bengali in

nature. Bangladeshis are generally hospitable and

exceedingly helpful. Anything unusual is a crowd magnet,

be it a road accident, a street demonstration or a foreigner.

Travellers should respect local traditions, customs, laws

and religions at all times and be aware of their actions to

ensure that they do not offend other cultures or religious

beliefs. Likewise foreigners are advised to travel

responsibly, being sensitive to their impact on the local

environment and society.

Safety and security issues for travellers according to

several embassies15 are; Terrorism threats and attacks

cannot be ruled out; Demonstrations are often held at

short notice and have the potential to become violent; and

the current political state of emergency.

15 Embassy Web-pages of England, Sweden, America, Norway and

Denmark has been consulted in February 2006.

12

Documented crime against expats and tourists include

armed robbery, pick pocketing, abduction for ransom and

officials abuse of authority. Travel between towns after

dark, by train, bus or ferry, is generally risky because of

banditry. Further more road network condition and safety

is poor; and ferries are often dangerously overcrowded.

Travellers in the Chittagong Hill Tracts (Chittagong

Division) are required to register with local authorities,

stay in the main towns and travel on the main roads. The

safety situation in the Chittagong Hill Tracts is pointed out

by embassies as constantly changing due to violent

disputes between rival tribal groups, settlers and the

military.

Historically, crime rates in Bangladesh have traditionally

been low compared to other areas of the world. The crime

situation in Dhaka and Chittagong is however worsening

and there are increasing reports of crimes involving

weapons. Foreigners have not been especially targeted.16

One recent security advice for foreigners in Dhaka

estimates that Dhaka is a safe place, when you know how

to play by its rules.17

16 A Global World Products (2008)

17 JoyBangla.info (2008c)

13

As to the safety situation in the Chittagong Hill Tracts a

peace accord was signed in 1997, after two decades of

local resistance and military repression.18 All problems are

not solved but both local and foreigners are now travelling

to several destinations in the area.

General travelling advice for Bangladesh is therefore to be

well informed of world events and local developments as

well as avoid potential dangerous situations like travelling

alone (especially as single females)19, at night and by

public transportation.

18 A Global World Products (2008)

19 JoyBangla.info (2008a)

14

3. Tourist destinations

In terms of existing tourist products, both inbound and

home market, Rajshahi, Sylhet, Chittagong and Khulna

Division are the main tourist divisions.20

3.1. The four main tourist divisions

The Rajshahi Division is overwhelmingly agricultural, with

no large cities. In the northern part of this division the

Himalayan Mountains can be seen on clear days.

The region offers remote peaceful towns and a variety of

historical monuments, including mosques, Hindu temples

and British-era buildings. Best known, and nominated a

UNESCO World Heritage Site, is the ruins of the Buddhist

Vihara at Paharpur. According to UNESCO this

archaeological site is undoubtedly the most spectacular

pre-Islamic monumental complex in the south of the

Himalayan region. Three other historical sites are on the

UNESCO Tentative list: Mahasthangarh, the oldest known

city in Bangladesh, Halud Vihara, a Buddhist

20 Primary source Lonely Planet (2004), Banglapedia (2006),

Encyclopedia of the Nations (2007) and UNESCO (2008a-c)

archaeological site, and Jaggadala Vihara, the

archaeological remains of a Buddhist monastery.

The Sylhet Division is covered with terraced tea estates,

patches of tropical rainforest, pineapple plantations and

orange groves. This division has the best climate in the

country temperate and cool air in the winter and

moderately warm in the summer. Annual rainfall is 5000

mm, the highest in the country. Clear water runs in

15

the rivers and popular tourists attractions are the

waterfall, Madhab Kunda, and Jaflong river delta, where

pebbles to the national concrete industry are collected.

Highlighted tourist activities are cycling, bird watching

and visiting tribal villages in the area.

Chittagong Division offers a natural and ethnic diversity.

Situated in this part of Bangladesh it is one of the world's

longest natural sandy sea beaches (120 km) including

mud flats, Coxs Bazar, and the only coral island, Saint

Martins Island. To the local travel market these places

have become popular and loathed sea, sand and sun

holiday destinations. Beach life, Bangladeshi style,

includes women bathing in a two-piece suit.

Far East the division is hilly; this part is referred to as the

Chittagong Hills. Over ten different tribe populations live

in this area, each tribe with distinctive rites, rituals,

dialects and dress.

16

The Mainimati Ruins represents a major religious and

political centre without parallel in the subcontinent as it

appears to have been the religious centre from which

Buddhism was spread to South East Asia. This cultural

site is on the UNESCO Tentative List. The 900 hectare

Dulahazara Safari Park is the first of its kind in

Bangladesh; the park is home for 4,000 animals of 165

species. Chittagong city is the second largest city in

Bangladesh with around 4 million citizens and the

countrys busiest port.

The Khulna Division is made up of marshland, dense

jungle and numerous rivers. The Sundarbarns is a

preserve cluster of islands with thousands of winding

streams, creeks and rivers and the habitat for the famous

Royal Bengal Tiger. The site is the only UNESCO heritage

nature site in Bangladesh and one of the countrys major

tourist attractions.

The Historical Mosque City of Bagerhat is also nominated

a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Except for Dhaka, this

town has more historic monuments in its surrounding

area than any other town in Bangladesh. It was not until

the arrival of the British that this division started to

develop, but today the city of Khulna it is the third-largest

urban centre in the country.

17

3.2. The two secondary tourist divisions

Barisal Division is a wide and flat region fringed by rivers

and the sea, which offers a quiet green environment with

little industrial development and few historical

monuments. Barisal, the capital of the division, is a

pleasant port city with several ponds and old buildings

from the Raj era. Best tourist spot is the beach of

Kuakata, with a wide, sandy beach boasting coconut

groves, a Buddhist temple and tribal communities.

Dhaka Division is the most densely populated area of the

country with some 25,244 villages. Most of the division is

closely settled farmland and only in the far north

woodland can be found. Some of the best cultural sites in

the countryside are: Sonargaon, the ancient capital of Isa

Khan's kingdom in Bengal, Atia Mosque, a transitional

phase mosque, and the Madhupur Forest Reserve.

Dhaka, the bursting capital is dominant in terms of

population concentration, economy, trade and commerce,

education, and administration. The capital can be divided

in to three areas. Old Dhaka is a maze of crowded bazaars,

narrow streets and interesting buildings and Mosques.

The Lalbagh Fort, Bangla-Mughal style architecture, is

nominated a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Central Dhaka

is a modern part of town with commercial districts and

many of the nations central museums, universities and

offices. Beyond are the suburbs, including the upmarket

quarters of Banani, Gulshan and Baridhara, which have

the best restaurants, guesthouses and all of the

embassies.

18

3.3. Status for tourist attractions

The result of the tumultuous history of Bangladesh, with

internal warfare, several invasions, rise and fall of

empires, and influence from foreign lands is a country

with a widely cultural and religious mix, monuments to

show and stories to tell. A sustainable commercial use of

these resources is often low, which affect the standard for

preservation, development and level of international

appeal.

There is a dismal lack of designated national parks,

reserves and conservation area in Bangladesh overall. The

country has two national parks21 and four forest reserve22,

these are in generally not strictly controlled and

disappearing fast.

With millions of people to feed, its maybe asking too much

to lock away good agricultural land. Nevertheless animal

21 Bhawal National Park (Dhaka Division) and Sundarbarns National

Park (Khulna Division)

22 Lowacherra Forest Reserve (Sylhet Division), Madhupur Forest

Reserve (Dhaka Division), Singra Forest Reserve (Rajshahi Division)

and Telepara Forest Reserve (Sylhet Division)

survival often depends on intact natural areas. Some of

the large wildlife animals in the country are tiger,

elephant, black bear, deer, monkey, crocodile, snake and

dolphin. Bangladesh is also the habit of more than 650

spices of birds, almost half of those found on the entire

subcontinent.

19

Global warming represents a huge challenge for

Bangladesh, as it is one of the 10 countries most

vulnerable to a rise in sea level. Present predictions23

indicate the sea will rise by 8 to 30 cm by 2030, and 30

110 cm by 2100. A 1m rise in the Bay of Bengal would

result in a lost of 12-18% of the countrys land.

UNESCO conclude in 200824 that three sites inscribed on

the World Heritage List and a tentative list now being

drawn up with the assistance of UNESCO demonstrate

that Bangladesh is concerned with safeguarding a heritage

damaged by increased salinity and climate change.

Likewise, with regard to cultural policies and intercultural

dialogue, UNESCO concludes that Bangladesh is

concerned to protect and promote traditional Bengali

culture while upgrading relations between cultural

diversity and biodiversity as a basis for sustainable

development.

23 Sustainable development Network Programme (SDNP) (2008)

24 UNESCO (2008b)

20

Bangladesh and UNESCO also cooperate in the field of

intangible heritage. In 2005 the Baul Songs were

proclaimed Masterpieces of the Oral and Intangible

Heritage of Humanity and an action plan has been

implemented to foster their transmission. These songs are

believed to date back to at least the 15th century and form

an important genre of Bengali folk songs also in present

time. Baul Songs were an inspiration to, Bengali

Rabindranath Tagore (1861-1941), the first Asian writer to

win the Nobel Prize in 1913.

Traditional Bengali handicraft is cheep and includes

pottery and terracotta sculpture, processed pieces of

jewellery of gold, silver and mother of pearls, textiles

weaving in silk and cotton and wood carved products. The

production of local handicraft is often part of social

sustainable development programs. Furthermore

Bangladesh plays a part in the SEAL of Excellence

initiative, a South-east Asian program established in 2000

to encourage craft-workers to use traditional skills and

materials to ensure the perpetuation of traditional

knowledge and preserve cultural diversity.25

25 UNESCO (2008c)

21

3.4. Potential

The six Bangladeshi Division offers both individually and

combining a variety of natural and cultural destinations

suitable for tourist attractions. Regardless of the present

development, this paper argues that future tourist

development is possible in all districts of Bangladesh

depending highly on the existing potential and the tourist

product in mind.

Giving the complex challenges for the nation to preserve

its attractions for the future, sustainable tourism

development could have a major positive impact in

Bangladesh. The existing external image of Bangladesh

can further more inspire to several new tourist attractions

to increase understanding of the countrys history and

developing challenges. For example tourist could see, or

participate in, traditional craft-work or volunteer work at

nature and cultural projects.

22

4. Target groups

4.1. Inbound tourists

The latest available profound statistic information of the

Bangladeshi characteristics of the inbound tourists covers

the time period 1996 to 2005.26 Average number of

inbound tourists in the period is 203.015 tourists. The

lowest number of inbound tourists was 165.887 tourists

recorded in 1996, the highest was 271.270 tourists in

2004.

In 2005 Bangladesh recorded 207.662 inbound tourists.

In terms of region the majority of the Bangladeshi tourists

originated from South Asia (99.459), followed by Europe

(48.961), East Asia and Pacific (35.976), US (18.673),

Middle East (2.861) and Africa (1.730).

During 1996 to 2005 the average numbers of tourists from

different countries, show a top three over 10.000 tourists

pr year from India (71.966), UK (31.529) and USA

(14.873). In this same period another 22 countries had an

26 Source Parjatan

average number of over 1000 tourists travelling to

Bangladesh pr. year. Here Pakistan was situated at the top

end with 9.179 tourists and Denmark at the bottom with

1.287 tourists. The countries in-between top to bottom

are: Japan, Korea, China, Canada, Nepal, Germany,

Malaysia, Australia, Netherlands, Thailand, Singapore,

France, Sri Lanka, Italy, Sweden, Taiwan, Philippines,

Saudi Arabia, Others and Indonesia.

Within the above mentioned top 25 countries for the

Bangladeshi tourist industry 17 countries show a positive

growth for the period 1995 to 2005. The five larges

percentage-wise growth is recoded in Other (286%),

Indonesia (250%), Taiwan (157%), Thailand (94%) and

China (74%). The number of Danish tourists in

Bangladesh shows a 5% growth.

The Bangladeshi inbound tourist activity is spread

through out the year. Numbers from 2005, shows that the

country monthly receives between 13.166 (September) and

20.213 (January) inbound tourists. Less than 17.000

tourists are received in the months of February, April,

August, September and October. Between 17.000 and

23

19.000 tourists are received in May, June, November and

December. High inbound travel months with over 19.000

tourists are January, March and July.

A significant difference in travel patterns throughout the

year exists between the top 25 inbound tourist countries

in Bangladesh. In Korea, Australia, Nepal, Taiwan, Italy,

Philippines, Switzerland and Bhutan November is the

month with the highest numbers of tourists travel to

Bangladesh. In China, Japan, Pakistan, Canada,

Nederland, Sweden and Sri Lanka most Bangladeshi travel

activity is in January. Tourists in Germany, New Zealand

and Denmark primarily prefer travelling in March. Other

favourite travelling month to Bangladesh include May

(India), June (Singapore), July (UK and USA), August

(Indonesia) and September (Thailand and France).

Personal experience from the expatriate community show

that it is very rare to meet short-term foreign visitors in

Bangladesh, the ones that do visit for less than a month

are usually here as guests of expats.

The characteristics of the top 25 inbound tourist countries

in Bangladesh and the existing travel pattern indicates

that the inbound tourists from these countries are

influenced by several factors when choosing Bangladesh

as their destination. Some of the important pull-factors for

these countries are expected to be: The climatic travel

season in Bangladesh; the historical links to India,

Pakistan and England; a linguistic link with English

speaking countries; the geographical proximity to markets;

and personal relationships to the expatriate community.

24

4.2. The local middle and high class

No statistic information of the local tourism market has

been found, but several typical features of this market can

be pointed out.27

The nature of the countrys urban social structure has

changed due to the fact that cosmopolitan culture and

modern values has transmitted from the West. So while

the rural lifestyle have remained largely unchanged for

millennia, the growing Bangladeshi urban middle and

upper class live much like their Western counterparts. The

highest level of urbanization is in Dhaka, Chittagong and

Khulna which all has a large industrial and commercial

pursuit along with vibrant service sectors.

27 According to Lonely Planet (2004) and Encyclopedia of the Nations

(2007)

Wealth and education largely determine urban social

status for both men and women. Unlike many Middle

Eastern countries women in Bangladesh enjoy

considerable freedom and are generally involved in

education and labour.28 Nevertheless educating sons has

the highest priority, which the inequality in the level of

literacy between the sexes show (in 2003 est. male 53%

and female 31,8%).29 In richer families both sons and


29 CIA - The world Factbook (2008)

25

daughters are under great pressure to get a good

education at a national or international prestigious

university.

Since the 1980s Bangladesh has had a rapidly rising

emigration of people, both permanent and temporary. The

emigration rate stood at the 0.77 migrant(s) per 1,000

citizens in 2000, or around 1 million a year.30 12 million

Bangladeshis possess a passport in 2008.31 Popular

emigration destinations for study and work are Western

Europe, the Americas and Australia. The major

destinations for Bangladeshi workers are Middle East

countries and Malaysia, where they are temporary

employed mainly in the low-skill and low-wage

construction and service sectors.32

The Bangladeshi family is a tightly knitted group, not only

for economic and protective reasons, but as a major centre

for both recreational and social activities. Even for city

dwellers, there is a strong connection to the home village,

30 CIA - The world Factbook (2008)

31 BangladeshNews.com.bd (2008)

32 Encyclopedia of the Nations (2007a)

to which they go when possible.33 Compared to the hectic,

crowded and polluted city life the rural lifestyle stands out

as simple, quiet and safe. Since 2005, Bangladesh has

recognized a two-day weekend: Friday and Saturday and

21 Government Holidays. Two popular travelling

opportunities, where millions of people leave the cities, are

the Muslim holidays, Eid ul-Fitr and Eid ul-Azha.

33 Lonely Planet Bangladesh (2004)

26

4.3. The expatriate community

There are no official records of the expatriate community,

but foreign countries with embassies or consulates in

Bangladesh can be interpreted as having a high level of

national activity and interest in the country. The 40

countries with national authorities in Bangladesh are:

Australia, Bhutan, Brunei, Canada, China, Denmark,

Egypt, France, Germany, India, Indonesia, Italy, Iran,

Japan, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, Korea (South and North),

Kuwait, Libyan, Malaysia, Morocco, Myanmar, Nederland,

Nepal, Norway, Pakistan, Palestine, Poland, Qatar, Russia,

Singapore, Sri Lanka, Sweden, Switzerland, Thailand,

Turkey, UK, United Arab Emirates, USA and Uzbekistan.

17 of the above mentioned authorities answered February-

March 2008 when questioned about the numbers of

citizens expatriated in Bangladesh. The answers generally

show a lack of exact registration of citizens living in

Bangladesh, but these estimations nevertheless provide an

initial insight of this target group.

The total numbers of expats provided ends up to 13000 -

15000 expats, primarily from India (5000-6000 persons),

America (2400-2500 persons), Pakistan (2000-2050

persons) and England (around 2000 persons). The sum of

expatriated Europeans34 is just over 3000.

The further indication of the characterisation of the

expatriate community is based on the results of an

exploratory tourism survey in Dhaka on the local target

markets in November 2007. This paper author

participated in making the survey as a part of a Feasibility

Study on a Bangladeshi up scale eco resort.

51 random picked expats from 20 countries participated

in the survey. Age between 22 and 60 were represented by

the questioned, average age was 38 years. 12 questioned

expats reside in Bangladesh alone while 35 live with a

partner/spouse. 25 couples have 1-3 kids staying in

Bangladesh at the age of 0 to 19, average age is 7.

In 48 expat households at least one person is working, in

the remaining 3 household occupancy is study related. 16

expats are unemployed, all women living with working

partner/spouse.

34 Numbers of expats from Denmark (137), Germany (150-200), Italy

(some 200), Nederland (200), Norway (71), Sweden (80 families),

Switzerland (52), Turkey (113) and UK (some 2000).

27

Annual household income is in generally high; 20 % earn

US$60,000 - US$79,999, 16 % US$80,000 - US$99,999,

14 % US$40,000 - US$59,999 and a total of 38 % earn

more than US$60,000. The living period in Bangladesh

range between 6 month and 22 years, average is 3.3 years.

Expatriate households make several annual trips with an

overnight stay, the average number of stays is 1,8 in

Bangladesh, 1,5 to home country, 2,8 to nearby countries

and 1,1 to other countries. The expatriate travel pattern in

Bangladesh show large differences; 14 households have no

experience with such trips, while 8 households make more

than 6 annual trips. The five most important elements

when or if, selecting a place to visit/stay in Bangladesh

are: cleanliness, beautiful natural setting, comfortable

rooms, good food and environmentally friendly facilities.

The destinations visited in Bangladesh by expats are

mainly inspired by family and friends (62%), work

colleagues (42%) and guide books (19%).

Personal experience on the expatriate community

indicates that expats live, with only few exceptions, in the

up quarters of Dhaka or Chittagong.

Everyday life and most weekends expats in Dhaka stay in

the hectic and polluted capital. Socializing with

partner/spouse, children and friends is important, which

is often taking place at local international clubs or

restaurants.

28

Several expats are considering going on extended

weekends to the Bangladeshi countryside.

Expats, who have never stayed over night at national

destinations outside Dhaka, often base their perception of

Bangladesh on their impressions of the capital city. Some

of their specific reasons not to go are: dangerous and

hectic traffic, hours of travel time and lack of knowledge of

the existing destination possibilities in the national tourist

market.

Expats, who have stayed over night at national

destinations outside Dhaka, often travel in larger groups

related to work or personal relationships; quite often the

reason to go is home country visitors. Travelling in rural

Bangladesh is often explained as an intensive experience,

which often causes personal frustrations as well as an

increasing understanding of the countries background,

present and future. Curious crowds of people, long travel

time and hectic traffic are relevant travel obstacles, but

several travel experienced expats argue that the best

experiences in Bangladesh are to be found outside Dhaka.

4.4. Future tourist demand

Bangladesh is part of South Asia, which also includes

Bhutan, India, Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan and Sri Lanka.

This major region is the most under represented region in

tourism terms, with 23 per cent of the worlds population

but les than 1 per cent of stayovers. The majority of the

tourist traffic is accounted for just one country: India.35

Except for the country of Bhutan, that with a strict tourist

visa policy is offering an expensive and exclusive tourist

35 Weaver & Lawton (2002)

29

product to few tourists, Bangladesh is the country in the

region that have the least arrivals and revenue earned

from the industry. Tourist arrivals in 2005 were 208.000

from which the country earned 70 million US$. 36

Contributing factors to the level of inbound tourism in

South Asia include a long history of regional political and

social instability. Further more the region suffers by a

negative market image of widespread poverty, a

rudimentary level of infrastructure and services, and a

relative remoteness to major market regions.

In 2002 the tourist prospects of at least some of the South

Asian countries was predicted to improve in the future

through the implementation of multilateral and inter-

regional projects that seek to develop their potential.37

Travel & Tourism is in the beginning of the twenty-first

century a high-growth activity, which is forecast to

increase its total economic activity by 4.4% per annum

worldwide in real terms between 2008 and 2017. In this

36 See Appendix Table 7.1 and Table 7.2

37 Weaver & Lawton (2002)

same period, Travel & Tourism in South Asia is expected

to post average annualized gains of an amazing 7.3%; the

expected growth in Bangladesh is 5.7% per annum.

Travel & Tourism Demand in South Asia is hereby

expected to reach 82,037.2 million US$ in 2007, growing

to 204,964.5 million in 2017. In 2007, Bangladeshi Travel

& Tourism is expected to post 3,429.3 million US$ of

economic activity (Total Demand), growing to 7,412.1

million US$ by 2017. 38

4.5. Potential

Bangladesh is the country in the region that has the least

arrivals and revenue earned from the tourism industry.

Lack of updated valid data about the Bangladesh tourism

sector makes it difficult to conclude the tourism demand

status and potential, but possible growth are indicated in

all three target markets; inbound tourism, the local middle

and high class and expats.


30

In spite of a growing tourist demand worldwide, regionally

and nationally there is no guarantee that Bangladesh will

benefit. The reason is39 that many destinations and

individual companies have shackled their ability to grow

by running competition on a cost-only basis and have

foregone innovation as a differentiating factor. The

organizations which will benefit most from anticipated

industry growth will be those that are quickest and most

flexible in reacting to the unforeseen. To be able to manage

industry volatility, organizations need to possess three

distinctive capabilities; Flexible operating models,

customer centricity as a core capability and operational

excellence.

39 World Travel & Tourism Council (2007b)

31

5. The upcoming tourist

industry

The main sources for this chapter are Banglapedia (2006)

and Lonely Planet Bangladesh (2004). Additional

information regarding the players and prices in the local

tourism business is available though Appendix 8.3 and

8.4.

5.1. Transportation

International fares from Europe and Thailand to

Bangladesh are often cut-rate flights and the national

transport, whether it is by air, land or water, are cheap

compared with western standard.

Bangladesh has international airports in Dhaka,

Chittagong and Sylhet; the main outbound destinations

are Bangkok (Thailand) and Calcutta (India).

The largest national airport, Zia International Airport, is

located in the capital. 20 airlines are handling over 183

international flights per week to over 25 destinations in

Asia and Europe.40 Several flight routes options exist from

European destinations to Dhaka. As an example flying

from Copenhagen, Denmark, to Dhaka, is possible with

one stopover in London (England), Bangkok (Thailand) or

Rome (Italy). Several alternative travel routes include a two

stop over journey; First stop over is in one of the European

cities of Frankfurt (Germany), Helsinki (Finland), London

(England), Wien (Austria) or Istanbul (Turkey). Second

stop over is in Dubai (United Arab Emirates), Doha (Qatar)

or Delhi (India).41

About 3.8 million international and 0.8 million domestic

passengers pass through Zia International Airport

annually, which is over 50 % of the country's international

and domestic arrivals and departures.42

In addition to the international airports, there are smaller,

domestic airports in Rajshahi, Bagerhat, Barisal, Coxs

Bazar, Jessore, and Saidpur. There are only a couple of

direct flights between regional cities, including Coxs

Bazar-Chittagong and Saidpur-Rajshahi.

40 Wikipedia.com (2008a)

41 Search the 11. of April 2008 at www.travelmarket.dk

42 Wikipedia.com (2008a)

32

The Bangladeshi rail network is largely British-built,

linking most major towns and cities. The network is

divided into two halves eastern and western by the

Ganges and Brahmaputra rivers. Connections between the

two networks are often poor further more travel is slowed

down by unbridged rivers requiring ferry crossings and

circuitous routing. A train ride can take up exactly the

same time, or twice as long, as a bus ride.

Approximately 6240km (3877 miles) of roads makes it

possible to reach virtually everywhere in Bangladesh. Road

travel can be very slow given poor quality of many of the

roads, heavy and chaotic traffic in urban areas and

occasionally ferry crossings being a necessity. The

Bangladesh Road Transport Corporation provides a

countrywide network of bus services.

Bangladesh has a well-developed and well-used system of

water transport, further more with a total of 8000 km.,

rivers and streams outstretch roads in total distance.

Although water transportation is generally slow and highly

affected by the rise and fall of the rivers though out the

seasons, this transportation form is an interesting

alternative. The main routes are covered by Bangladesh

Inland Water Transport Corporation (BIWTC), while private

companies are primary operating on shorter routes.

Sundarbarns, the mangrove forest, can only be visited by

boat.

33

5.2. Accommodation, restaurants and

night life

Traditionally, Bengalis have preferred to accommodate and

entertain guests at home, however small and congested a

house may be. Any suggestion of keeping guests or

relatives at hotels or entertaining them in restaurants was

almost sacrilegious.

During the British period, officials and their guests found

accommodation and food at circuit houses. In the 1950s

and 1960s, a large number of rest houses were built all

over the country providing services to business travellers.

The first hotels and motels build around interesting spots

with facilities suitable for tourists were launched by the

national tourism organisation The Bangladeshi Parjatan

Corporation after 1960. Many little-known places of

historic, cultural, ethnic and natural interest were made

popular this way.43


The largest complexes were built in Dhaka, Chittagong

and Coxs Bazar, but the organisation also offers

accommodation in the cities of Khulna, Dinajpur,

Rangamati, Sylhet, Bogra, Rajshahi and Rangpur.44

Generally the facilities and service offered by these

accommodations are at a basic level.

44 Bangladeshonline.com (2008)

34

A variety of facilities at different service levels are offered

in the private build hotels and restaurants which have

emerged all over the country since 1971.

Business related tourism still seems to be the primary

target group and the metropolitan cities of Dhaka and

Chittagong has attracted most attention. The top end

hotels in Dhaka are: Radisson Water Garden Hotel

Dhaka, Sheraton Hotel, Sarina Hotel Dhaka, Pan Pacific

Sonargaon Hotel, The Westin Hotel Dhaka and Hotel

Swiss Park Bangladesh.

Hundreds of restaurants serve Local, Oriental, Indian and

Western food. Further more several exclusive private clubs

in Dhaka and Chittagong provide accommodation, food

and bar services to their members and guests.

Examples of popular private tourist accommodation

outside the two main cities include in Sylhet Division

Nazimgarh Resort, in Dhaka Division Royal Resort, in

Rajshahi Division Hotel Naz Garden, Elenga Resort and

Jamuna Resort, in Chittagong Division Esmeralda

Resort, Hillside Resort and Seagull Hotel.

Private tourist boat operators with onboard

accommodation are primary sailing in the Sundarbarns or

nearby Dhaka. Examples of high quality tourist boat

operators are Contic, Guide Tours, Bangladesh

Ecotours and Excursion Bangladesh.

Bangladeshi nightlife is nearly non-existent. Being a

Muslim country, alcohol is frowned upon and found

mostly in the international clubs and pricier restaurants

in Dhaka and in some restaurants in tourist centers like

Cox's Bazar. Some of the nicest hotels in the cities have

fully equipped bars with exaggerated prices to match. In

35

town Teknaf and on Saint Martins Island smuggled beer

from Myanmar is occasionally sold.45

5.3. Tour operators

Theoretically both the National tourist Office Parjatan (The

Bangladesh Parjatan Corporation) and the private-sector

run tours in Bangladesh, but in reality the private-sector

operators have eclipsed national tour service.46 At The

Bangladeshi Tourism Fair 2007 it was estimated that

about 150 private tour operators in the country, no

Bangladeshi tour operator works abroad, and no foreign

tour operator work in Bangladesh. 47

In 1992 78 private tour operators48 founded the TOAB

association (Tour Operators Association of Bangladesh),

which aims to develop and nourish tourism in Bangladesh

and to promote tour products of Bangladesh in the

international arena. In 2002 the association was

recognized as a trade organization from the Ministry of

45 Wikitravel.com (2008b)

46 Lonely Planet (2004)

47 Daily Star (2007)


Commerce, the Government of Bangladesh. In addition to

their focus on their home market, several TOAB

members49 cooperate with foreign tour operators and

provide tour packages to nearby South Asian counties -

primary India, Nepal, and Bhutan. Latest membership

update from 2006 show 73 members and 4 associated

members, including tour operators, hotels and resorts. 50

On foreign markets Bangladesh is included as a tourist

destination by few local travel operators, for example

Experience Bangladesh (USA), Undiscovered

Destinations (UK), UNITAS rejser (Denmark) and Grace

Tours (Denmark).

In 2007 TOAB claimed that their members cater up to

95% of the foreign tourists and also hosted most of the

domestic tourists: However the organisation do not have

any statistic on how many tourists they host every year,

49For example Amazing Holidays, Classic Tours & Travels, Galaxy

Travel International and The Guide Tours Ltd.

50 TOAB (2006)

36

how big their private industry is, or how big their

contribution to the government treasury is.51

All tour operators outside TOAB do not seem totally

unprofessional though; two examples are Contic and

Delta Outdoors.

5.4. How is Bangladesh sold

The Bangladeshi tourist slogan most referred to is Visit

Bangladesh: Before Tourists come, used several years ago

by Parjatan. Nevertheless the promotion of Bangladesh as

a tourist destination is far from unambiguous, most likely

due to lack of national political policy and business

corporation. The first and still active national policy on

tourism in Bangladesh was introduced in 1992, but

according to TOAB no changes in the industry has been

evident since its announcement. There is no cooperation

between the reprehensive organs form the government and

private tourist sector, Parjatan and TOAB, further more a

collectively marketing policy does not exist in either

organ.52



37

Several webpages are providing national tourism

information, e.g. Gateway Bangladesh, Bangladesh Online

and Discovery Bangladesh.

The main source of the tourist promotion of Bangladesh

abroad is the few foreign tour operators selling this

destination. The profiles of these companies often include

concepts of sustainable travel and development, and their

tourist products are frequently aiming to improve the

tourists knowledge and understanding of the destination

society.

In foreign markets Bangladesh is generally presented as a

fairly undiscovered tourist destination as well as a country

with developing problems, natural beauty and interesting

cultural life. Several of these foreign tours operators are

able to customise their Bangladeshi tours by including

volunteer work, field study trips or visits to NGO projects,

traditional companies and villages.

The national tourist promotion of Bangladesh by the local

tour operators seems to be highly influenced by national

pride. The quote below is an example of the perception of

the potential of the Bangladeshi tourist product; these

same phrases are often used in local sales promotion.

Land of enormous beauty, hundreds of serpentine rivers,

crystal clear water lakes surrounded by ever green hills,

luxuriant tropical rain forests, beautiful cascades of green

tea gardens, world's largest mangrove forest preserved as

World Heritage, home of the Royal Bengal Tiger and the

wild lives, warbling of birds in green trees, wind in the

paddy fields, abundance of sunshine, world's longest

natural sea beach, rich cultural heritage, relics of ancient

Buddhist civilizations and colourful tribal lives, -

Bangladesh creates an unforgettable impression of a land

of peace and tranquillity.53

In the home market tourist promotion every company is

generally on their own.

Sales promotion in English is common, as to the extent

that some companies do not promote to the local market

in the native language. Brochures, business cards and

53 Tour Planers Ltd. (2008)

38

word of mouth seem to be important marketing channels,

as not all companies have a web-page.

To attract tourists the local tourist operators often outbid

competitors in professionalism, quality, service, linguistic

skills, sustainable development, adventure and unique

tourist products.

Comparing the tours of the different operators, few stands

out with a distinct profile and product while the majority

seems to offer quit similar tours and sales phrases. To a

western observer the linguistic promotion promises

sometimes also conflict with a poor photo quality,

especially when showing a low or different quality concept

of facilities and service.

5.5. The future Bangladeshi tourist supply

Travel & Tourism is a catalyst for construction and

manufacturing also in Bangladesh. In 2007 the public and

private sectors combined were expected to invest 764.8

million US$ on Travel & Tourism or 4.6% of total

investment. By 2017, this amount should reach 1,864.3

million US$, corresponding to 4.4% of total investment.

The Bangladeshi level of investments in Travel & Tourism

is not exceptional. Worldwide in 2007, Travel & Tourism

Capital Investment were expected to reach 1,155,427.0

billion US$, equivalent to 9.5% of total annual worldwide

investment. At the year 2017 the investments in this line

of business is predicted to reach 2,392,765.0 billion US$,

or 9.9% of the total world investment. In South Asia,

39

Travel & Tourism Capital Investment is expected to total

23,306.0 million US$ in 2007, or 8.0% of total regional

capital investment.54

The Bangladeshi aviation industry followed the globally

growth rate in 2007, with a 7.6 percent growth. To fulfil a

steadily growing demand for air transport several private

airline operators operating in Bangladesh are planning to

expanded their activities. This expansion includes adding

more aircraft to their fleet, new international destinations

and raising the numbers of flights to both international

and national destinations.55

5.6. The potential of the tourism industry

The tourism industry is quite a young line of business in

Bangladesh, where the development predominantly has

been left to the local market forces. Today this market has

both local and international tourist players competing for

the small existing market, primarily composed of a local

tourist market and a foreign business market. The



Bangladeshi government and private tourist sector are

represented by organisations, nevertheless co-operation,

strategies and policies aiming at developing a prosperous

and sustainable tourist industry are rear - and not always

implemented if they exist.

To develop the Bangladeshi tourism industry successfully

a local based strategy is crucial - without visions,

missions, goals and policies for this line of business

40

the development is largely uncontrolled. Here by there is a

possibility that an undesired or destroying tourist

development takes place, often influent by powerful foreign

tourist players. Political and/or private initiatives can

control a national tourism development as well as

introduce initiatives to strengthen the influence of local

communities.56 The political history of Bangladesh seems

to indicate that the private sector should have a large

influence if the national tourism development is to be

sustainable and consistent.

The future tourism strategy should have two primary

aims. First; the development has to be sustainable

including economical, cultural and environmental

considerations. The term sustainable can be determined

as: Development that meets the needs of the present

without compromising the ability of future generations to

meet their own needs.57 As tourism often causes both

positive and negative influence on a destination the

phenomena and control of a sustainable development is

56 Denman, R. (2001)

57 Shaller, D. T. part 2, page 2

complex. Every destination has an ultimate sustainable

load, but a generally and objective definition of this

sustainable limit do not exist.58

58 Butler, R. W. (1997)

41

The second aim for a Bangladeshi tourism strategy is that

actions should be taken to increase the tourist income by

raising the numbers of tourists, the income pr. tourist or

the average length of stay. In this regard it is obvious to

focus on existing local markets as well as to aim for the

traditionally profitable inbound tourist market.

The low existing inbound tourism demand indicates that

fundamental product and promotion improvement is

required.

Strategically product improvement must take into account

that International travellers have a much higher service

expectation than most domestic travellers, they judge

operators (and hence destinations) on the basis of their

professionalism. And although there may be many

professional operations in Bangladesh, both large and

small, there is a terrible lack of connection between their

products and the discerning dollar-spending traveller.59

To meet the expectations of the foreign market

investments in the existing infrastructure and other

tourism related services seems to be necessary. Likewise

59 JoyBangla.info (2008b)

42

product improvement must result in a desired tourist

product, which must take existing Bangladeshi attraction

supply and foreign demand into account.

The Bangladeshi destination already awakes life lessons

and eye-opening experiences to expatriates and some of

the existing product potential lies in trekking, beach

resorts, wildlife and the everyday life of the Bangladeshi

people. One possible national product improvement

strategy60 therefore is to develop the Bangladeshi tourist

destination inspired by the philosophy of responsible

travel. This philosophy redefines the way people travel

around the world. [The responsible traveller] wants a

holiday that minimises his/her impact on the environment

and detrimental influence on local cultures, while

simultaneously enlightening themselves about the world

abroad.61

The responsible target market generally travel for a longer

time period, they would most likely buy a guided round

trip in Bangladesh and/or including nearby countries e.g.

Nepal, India, Burma and Bhutan. Responsible travel is a

60 Inspired by JoyBangla.info (2008b) and Daily Star (2007)

61 Responsibletravel.com (2008a)

world niche market increasing especially in USA and

Europe.62

Regarding strategically tourism promotion, the second

improvement proposed to attract the inbound market, this

should be more unanimous and go far beyond the slogan:

Visit Bangladesh: Before Tourists come.

62 Kristelig Dagblad (2008)

43

The Bangladeshi tourism industry can be criticized for

lacking marketing professionalism, which is severely

crippling the industrys inbound and expatriate tourism

growth.63 The solution is that the local operators provide

the tourists with truthful, well researched and easy-to-

understand information on what a journey to the country

will be like, and why it will be memorable.

In the process of accessing new foreign tourist markets the

expatriates can be considered a pivotal springboard, as

one can never underestimate the power of the word of

mouth. Before Bangladeshi tour operators can do any kind

of job reaching the outside world, they need to convince

the expat market first.

63 According to Mikey Leung, travel journalist and initiative to the

webpage JoyBangla.info, and Majbritt Thomsen, the author of this

paper.

44

6. Executive summary

This paper provides an introduction to the Bangladeshi

tourist sector focusing on its general status and

development potential. It is the hope to increase the

interest of the Danish tourism business in Bangladesh as

well as draw the attention to the development possibilities

through the DANIDA B2B programme.

Reality in Bangladesh is not as devastating as the

international image of the country indicates. The country

show a number of positive development indications in

spite of huge challenges related to geography, climate,

history, population and national economy.

Tourism has since the 1990s been a small but rapidly

growing sector of the economy. Foreign embassies request

travellers in Bangladesh to be alert to several safety and

security issues, nevertheless crime rates have traditionally

been low compared to other areas of the world. General

travel advice is to be well informed of world events and

local developments, avoid potential dangerous situations

and travel responsibly.

Due to historical isolation Bangladeshi culture and history

is distinct. The six national divisions offer both

individually and combining a variety of natural and

cultural destinations suitable for tourist attractions. The

Bangladeshi authorities are concerned with safeguarding

its heritage, including an extraordinary intangible heritage

and the traditional Bengali handicraft. Nevertheless the

standard for preservation, development and level of

international appeal of these resources are affected both

by a low sustainable commercial use and several national

45

challenges. Sustainable tourist development could have a

major positive impact.

Target groups in the Bengalis tourism industry are:

inbound tourists; the local high and middle class and

expats. Lack of update data makes it difficult to conclude

the tourism demand status and potential, but possible

growth are indicated in all three target markets.

Bangladesh is one of the countries in the South Asian

region that has the least arrivals and revenue earned from

the tourism industry. This might change in the future as

the travel and tourism activity is forecast to increase

worldwide, regionally and nationally. The most successful

organisations in the global tourism market will be those

who are quickest and most flexible in reacting to the

unforeseen.

The tourism industry is quite a young line of business in

Bangladesh. It is predominantly developed by local market

forces to the national tourist market and a foreign urban

business market. Organisations represent the government

and private tourist sector, but co-operation, strategies and

policies to develop a prosperous and sustainable tourist

industry are rear. Both local and international tourist

players are competing for the existing market, but no

Bangladeshi tour operator works abroad, and no foreign

tour operator work in Bangladesh.

The present and future level of national investments in the

travel and tourism sector is lower than the average world

and regional investments levels.

46

To successfully develop the Bangladeshi tourism industry

a local based strategy is crucial. This strategy should aim

both at sustainable development (including economical,

cultural and environmental considerations) and increasing

tourist income. It is obvious to focus on existing local

markets as well as to aim for the traditionally profitable

inbound tourist market.

The low existing inbound tourism demand indicates

though that fundamental product and promotion

improvement is required. Before Bangladeshi tour

operators can do any kind of job reaching the outside

world they need to convince the expat market first.

47

7. Reference

A Global World Products (2008) Bangladesh

http://www.aglobalworld.com/international-

countries/Asia/Bangladesh.php

American Embassy Dhaka, Bangladesh

http://www.infozee.com/usa/embassies/bangladesh.htm

BangladeshNews.com.bd (2008) Issuance to start by July

next year

http://www.bangladeshnews.com.bd/2008/03/11/issuan

ce-to-start-by-july-next-year-2/

Bangladeshonline.com (2008) Bangladesh Parjatan

Corporation

http://www.bangladeshonline.com/tourism/room_tariff.ht

m

Banglapedia (2006) National Encyclopedia of Bangladesh

CD edition, Asiatic society of Bangladesh

British High Commission in Dhaka, Bangladesh

http://www.britishhighcommission.gov.uk

Butler, R. W. (1997) The concept of carrying capacity for

tourism destinations: dead or merely buried? In Tourism

development: Environmental an Community issues, Wiley,

1997

CIA - The world Factbook (2008) Bangladesh

https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-

factbook/geos/bg.html

Daily Star (2007) Responsible tourism Islam, A. in Forum

http://www.thedailystar.net/forum/2007/november/tour

ism.htm

Daily Star (2008) Private airlines take off, aim higher

Hasan, R. & Chowhury, S. A.

http://www.thedailystar.net/story.php?nid=24155

48

DANIDA (2008) Landefakta Bangladesh

http://www.um.dk/da/menu/udenrigspolitik/landefakta

/landefaktaasien/bangladesh.htm

DAWC Yellow Pages (2005) ed. Bangladesh

Denman, R. (2001) WWF: Guidelines for community-

based ecotourism development, p 10ff.

Discovery Bangladesh (2008) Bangladesh: Science &

Technology

http://www.discoverybangladesh.com/meetbangladesh/s

cience_technology.html Dulahazara Safari Park

http://www.ntnu.no/biologi/english/dulahazara/

Encyclopedia of the Nations (2007a) Bangladesh

Country Overview

http://www.nationsencyclopedia.com/economies/Asia-

and-the-Pacific/Bangladesh.html

Encyclopedia of the Nations (2007b) Bangladesh

Overview of economy


and-the-Pacific/Bangladesh-OVERVIEW-OF-

ECONOMY.html

Encyclopedia of the Nations (2007c) Bangladesh - Poverty

and wealth


and-the-Pacific/Bangladesh-POVERTY-AND-

WEALTH.html

Embassy of Denmark, Dhaka Bangladesh

http://www.ambdhaka.um.dk/en

Embassy of Norway in Bangladesh

http://www.norway.org.bd/info/embassy.htm

Embassy of Sweden in Bangladesh

http://www.swedenabroad.com/Start____24142.aspx

49

International Herald Time (2006) Commentary: Why

Goldman Sachs may be right about Bangladesh

http://www.iht.com/articles/2006/01/24/bloomberg/sx

muk.php?page=1#end_main

JoyBangla.info (2008a) Its a dogfight: airline competition

heats up in Bangladesh

http://www.joybangla.info/category/travel

JoyBangla.info (2008b) Captive Market

http://www.joybangla.info/2008/01/02/captive-market

JoyBangla.info (2008c) Security advice for Dhaka,

especially for women

http://www.joybangla.info/2008/03/09/security-advice-

for-dhaka-especially-for-women

Kristelig Dagblad (2008) Etisk turisme vinder frem

http://www.kristeligt-dagblad.dk/artikel/281934:Udland-

-Etisk-turisme-vinder-kraftigt-frem

Lonely Planet (2004) Bangladesh McAdam. M. Lonely

Planet

Responsibletravel.com (2008a)

http://www.responsibletravel.com/

Responsibletravel.com (2008b) Bangladesh holidays

http://www.responsibletravel.com/TripSearch/Asia/Coun

try100038.htm

Shaller, D. T. (2008) Indigenous ecotourism and

sustainable Development: The case of Rio Blanco,

Ecuador

www.eduweb.com/schaller/section2rioblanco.html

Sustainable Development Networking Programme (SDNP)

(2005b) Disaster Prevention: Earthquake

http://www.bdix.net/sdnbd_org/world_env_day/2005/ba

ngladesh/disaster/earthquake.htm

Sustainable Development Networking Programme (SDNP)

(2005c) World Environment Day 2005: From Grim City to

Green City

http://www.bdix.net/sdnbd_org/world_env_day/2005/ba

ngladesh/index.htm

50

Sustainable development Network Programme (SDNP)

(2008) http://www.sdnbd.org/

TOAB (2006) List of the TOAB members

http://www.toab.org/memberlist.html

Tour Planers Ltd. (2008) Bangladesh http://www.tour-

planners.com/bangladesh.html

UNESCO (2008a) Bangladesh

http://whc.unesco.org/en/statesparties/bd

UNESCO (2008b) Culture-Bangladesh

http://portal.unesco.org/geography/en/ev.php-

URL_ID=2968&URL_DO=DO_TOPIC&URL_SECTION=201.

html

UNESCO (2008c) Seal of Excellence (SEAL) programme

http://www.unescobkk.org/index.php?id=483

Weaver, D. & Lawton, L. (2002) Tourism Management. 2.

ed. John Wiley & Sons Australia, Ltd

Wikipedia.com (2008a) Zia International Airport

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zia_International_Airport

Wikitravel.com (2008b) Bangladesh

http://wikitravel.org/en/Bangladesh

Workpremit.com (2007) Bangladesh imposes five-year

limit on foreign work permits

http://www.workpermit.com/news/2007-10-

23/bangladesh/board-of-investment-imposes-five-year-

work-permit-limit.htm

World Travel & Tourism Council (2007a) Bangladesh

Travel & Tourism navigating the path ahead

http://www.wttc.travel/eng/Tourism_Research/Tourism_

Satellite_Accounting/TSA_Country_Reports/Bangladesh/

World Travel & Tourism Council Bangladesh (2007b)

Executive Summary Travel & Tourism - navigating the

path ahead

http://www.wttc.travel/bin/pdf/original_pdf_file/executiv

esummary2007.pdf

51

8. Appendix

8.1. Tourist arrivals (in thousands)64

Country 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006

Bhutan 5 6 7 8 6 6 6 9 13,6 NA

India 2395 2382 2482 2649 2537 2384 2726 3371 3919 NA

Maldives 366 396 430 467 461 485 564 616 395 NA

Nepal 422 464 492 464 361 275 338 385 375 NA

Pakistan 375 429 432 557 500 498 479 648 798 NA

Sri Lanka 384 409 465 445 397 457 583 566 669 NA

Bangladesh 183 172 173 199 207 207 244 271 208 200

8.2. Tourism revenue (in millions US$)65

Country 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006

Bhutan 6 8 9 10 9 8 8 13 19 NA

India 2889 2948 3009 3168 3042 3013 3533 4769 NA NA

Maldives 286 303 314 321 327 337 402 471 287 NA

Nepal 116 153 229 219 191 134 232 260 160 NA

Pakistan 117 98 492 551 533 562 618 765 827 NA

Sri Lanka 212 231 414 388 347 594 692 808 729 NA

Bangladesh 62 52 50 50 48 57 58 67 70 NA



8.3. Players in the local tourism business

Accommodation

Elenga Resort www.ipsslgroup.com/serv-elenga.htm

Esmeralda Resort www.esmeralda-resort.com

Hillside Resort www.guidetours.com

Hotel Naz Garden www.hotelnazgarden.com/home.php

Hotel Swiss Park Bangladesh

Jamuna Resort www.jamunaresort.com

Nazimgarh Resort http://nazimgarh.com/

Pan Pacific Sonargaon Hotel

www.panpacific.com/Dhaka/Overview.html

Sarina Hotel Dhaka www.sarinahotel.com/

Seagull Hotel www.seagullhotelbd.com/cox's_bazar.htm

Sheraton Hotel

Radisson Water Garden Hotel Dhaka

www.radisson.com/dhakabn

Royal Resort www.lighthousebd.com/resort/

The Westin Hotel Dhaka

52

Transportation

Bangladesh Inland Water Transport Corporation (BIWTC)

www.mos.gov.bd/biwtc.htm

Bangladesh Road Transport Corporation www.brtc.gov.bd/

Royal Bengal (Aviana Airways Ltd.)

www.flyroyalbengal.com

United Airways (BD) Ltd. www.uabdl.com

Zia International Airport

Tourist information

Bangladesh Online www.bangladeshonline.com/

Discovery Bangladesh www.discoverybangladesh.com

Joy Bangla www.joybangla.info

Gateway Bangladesh www.bdgateway.org/

Tourist organisations

Parjatan (The Bangladesh Parjatan Corporation)

www.bangladeshtourism.gov.bd/

TOAB (Tour Operators Association of Bangladesh)

www.toab.org/

Tour operators

Amazing Holidays www.holidays-amazing.com

Bangladesh Ecotours www.bangladeshecotours.com/

Classic Tours & Travels www.classictours-bd.com

Contic www.contic.com/Main.html

Delta Outdoors www.delta-outdoors.com/

Excursion Bangladesh www.excursionbangladesh.com/

Experience Bangladesh (USA)

www.experiencebangladesh.com/

Galaxy Travel International www.galaxybd.com

Grace Tours (Denmark) www.gracetours.com/default.asp

Guide Tours Ltd. www.guidetours.com

Undiscovered Destinations (UK) www.undiscovered-

destinations.com/

UNITAS rejser (Denmark) www.unitasrejser.dk/

53

8.4. Prices in Bangladesh

The national currency is the Taka divided in 100 paisa.

100 Taka was US$1.45 or 6.75 Danish Kroner according

to CoinMill.com. (19. April 2008)

Bangladesh experienced low to moderate inflation over the

last one decade, except for the year 1997-1998 when the

consumer price index climbed to 9%. The index hovered

around 7% or below 2005-2006. The price in food prices

averaged at 6% per year during 1996-97 to 2005-06. But

in 2007-2008, Bangladesh is confronted with a high-price

level that promises to stick around for an unforeseeable

future, giving the scarcity in food supply and the countries

vulnerability to weather. (Published On: 2008-04-18)66

Transportation

International flights67 (return)

Copenhagen, Denmark to Dhaka, Bangladesh from

US$1372

London, UK to Dhaka, Bangladesh from US$906

66 Daily Star (2008a)

67 www.travelmarket.dk search 19. of April 2008

Bangkok, Thailand to Dhaka, Bangladesh from US$672

National flights

United Airways Ltd. One way promotion fares:

Dhaka to Jessore 2600 Taka

Dhaka to Coxs Bazar 4200 Taka

Sylhet to Chittagong 4000 Taka

Royal Bengal

Dhaka to Chittagong 3520 Taka

Dhaka to Sylhet 3175 Taka

Chittagong to Coxs Bazar 1995 Taka

Tourist accommodation

The Westin Hotel Dhaka

US$211 Double room, US$ 196 Single room.

Pan Pacific Sonargaon Hotel


Sheraton Hotel

US$179 Double room, US$169 Single room.

Sarina Hotel Dhaka


54

Resorts/hotels outside Dhaka:

Hillside Resort, Bandarban, Chittagong Division

Cottages (double) from 1200 Taka

Tribal houses (double) from 800 TK

Royal Resort, Dhanbari, Tangail, Dhaka Division

Palace, rooms from 75 US$, suite 175 US$

Villa, room from 25 US$

Bungalows, from 60 US$

Cottage, from 40US$

Jamuna Resort, Jamuna River, Rajshahi Division

Cottage from 6000.00 TK

Suites from 4250.00 TK

Elenga Resort, Kalihati, Rajshahi Division

Cottages of different sizes from 5500TK

Dormitory style from 2750 TK

Dormitory style from 660 TK double

Seagull Hotel, Coxs Bazar, Chittagong Division

Presidential suite (Double) US$250

Suites (Double) US$108

Deluxe sea view (Double) US$54

Regular sea view (Double) US$45

Hotel Pashur, Khulna, Khulna Division (Parjatan Hotel)

AC room 1200 Taka

No AC room 600 Taka

Domestic Tour Package

Contic (1 night 2 days boat trip) Dhaka-Srimongol-Dhaka

Super deluxe 7000 Taka/person

Deluxe 5000 Taka/person

Economy 3500 Taka/person

Contic (2 nights 3 days boat trip) Dhaka-Coxs Bazar -

Dhaka

Super deluxe 10.500 Taka/person

Deluxe 8500 Taka/person

Economy 5500 Taka/person

Safari plus (3 days 3 nights) Bandarban, Chittagong

District

Standard 2850 Taka/person

Executive 3950 Taka/person

Safari plus (3 days 3 nights) Sylhet, Sylhet Division

Standard 4850 Taka/person

Executive 6950 Taka/person

55

The tiger trail (3 days 2 nights) Coxs Bazar, Chittagong

District

From US$225

The tiger trail (2 days 1 night) Sylhet, Sylhet District

From US$80

The tiger trail (2 days 1 night) Rajshahi, Rajshahi Division

From US$105

Salary

Unskilled worker e.g. construction labor 200-300 Taka a

day

Office employee 12.000 Taka/month

Average manger 35.000 Taka/month

Internet

Private 96 Kbps 3000 Taka a month

Corporate 256 Kbps 25.300 Taka a month

Corporate 512 Kbps 40.000 Taka a month

Mortgage payment

Up quarters in Dhaka

Apartment 2000 sqf. (181 sqm.) 65.000 Taka a month

Food

Milk (local) 100 Taka/L

Milk (imported) 140 taka /L

Danish butter (imported) 50 Taka /100 g

KFC menu 250 Taka

Chicken (800 grams) Taka 200

Coarse rice 30-40 Taka per kg

Fine rice 80-100 Taka a kg.

Non-brand Soya bean Taka 108-110 per kg

Super palm oil Taka 101-103 a kg

Fuel

Petrol 68 Taka a litter

Gas (car) 8 Taka a litter

Gas (house) 400 Taka a month

Club membership

International Club Monthly fee family (US$75) and single

US$45

Dutch Club Monthly fee family (US$100) and single US$50

American Club Monthly fee family (US$60) and single

US$30

56

8.5. SWOT analysis of the Bangladeshi

tourism sector68

8.5.1. Strengths

Internal environment of the Bangladeshi tourist destination

What is the current level of patronage, and how does this

compare with past trends?

Tourists in Bangladesh are inbound tourists, Bangladeshi

middle and high class or expats.

There is a lack of knowledge about demand in the

Bangladeshi tourism business, particular regarding the

Bangladeshi middle and high class and the expatriated

community.

Inbound tourism registration exist for the period 1996-

2005. Average number of inbound tourists in the period

was 203.015 tourists. The lowest number of inbound

68 This SWOT analysis is mainly inspired by Daily Star (2007) and

JoyBangla.info (2008)

tourists was 165.887 tourists recorded in 1996, the

highest was 271.270 tourists in 2004.

What products are accentually and potentially available?

Due to historical isolation Bangladeshi culture and history

is distinct from many countries.

Bangladesh offers a variety of natural and cultural tourist

destinations, some on the UNESCO Heritage List.

The traditional Bengali handicraft is cheap

The present society and the developing process are

interesting tourist attractions sold primary by foreign tour

operators to the inbound market.

The national transport, whether it is by air, land or water,

is cheap. Slow existing transportation by road, rail and

water can be an adventure with the right positive attitude.

A variety of tourist accommodation facilities are offered in

rural and urban Bangladesh. Most investment has been

don in the Business related tourism and the metropolitan

cities.

Bangladesh is concerned with safeguarding a heritage

damaged by increased salinity and climate change.

57

Nevertheless sustainable commercial use of these

resources is often low, which affect the standard for

preservation, development and level of international

appeal.

Bangladesh is a fairly new and rarely visited inbound

tourist destination, which can attract an adventure

searching tourist market.

The world image of Bangladesh can inspire to several new

sustainable tourist attractions to increase understanding

of the countries history and developing challenges.

Interested in the effects of global warming can become a

new inbound travel market in Bangladesh, as the country

is one of the 10 countries most vulnerable to a rise in sea

level.

The tourism potential in Bangladesh can be developed

through implementation of multilateral and inter-regional

projects or co-operation with foreign travel companies.

Resposibletravel.com gives two examples of sustainable

co-operation holidays in Bangladesh, where foreign

providers are committed to support local people and the

environment.69

69 Responsibletravel.com (2008b)

Who are the customers, and how are they segmented?

Bangladesh attracts inbound tourists from many

countries; several pull-factors are expected and the tourist

activity is spread throughout the year. South Asia and

Europe are the larges inbound regions and India, UK and

USA are the larges inbound countries.

Local travel market is part of the growing urban

population, which live much like their Western

counterparts. 12 million passport holders and a decrease

in annual working days since 2005 are estimated to have

a positive effect on the local travel market.

Expatriated Bangladeshis represent a word of mouth

access to several potential national target markets. Moving

back to their native country some further more represent a

valuable skilled workforce in the tourism sector.

The urban expatriated community in Bangladesh

represents a variety of nationalities average years of stay

seems to be between 2-5 years. The all year present expa

TOURISM INDUSTRY IN BANGLADESH

Documents

tourist arrivals

tourist attractions

tourist destinations

future tourist demand

main tourist divisions

secondary tourist divisions

upcoming tourist industry

tourism industry