Dhaka: Prime Minister Tarique Rahman said the government considers tourism a central pillar for driving economic growth, creating jobs, and reducing poverty in Bangladesh, adding that authorities are drafting a long-term Tourism Master Plan to make the sector sustainable and better connected to the mainstream economy.

He said the upcoming master plan, based on the government's specific electoral pledges, will serve as the foundation for prioritizing and implementing future development projects. Simultaneously, work is progressing to update the National Tourism Policy to keep pace with shifting global trends.

The Prime Minister added that the Bangladesh Parjatan Corporation is working across the country to upgrade tourism infrastructure, expand facilities, and identify new destinations for visitors.

He made the comments on July 15 while answering a question from Cox's Bazar-3 Member of Parliament Lutfur Rahman during the 25th sitting of parliament's ongoing budget session.

The Prime Minister said the government has taken steps to transform Cox's Bazar into a world-class tourist destination, with international-standard tourism facilities planned on 132.44 acres of Bangladesh Parjatan Corporation land under a public-private partnership (PPP) model.

Alongside this, construction is underway on a modern Tourism Training Institute at the Motel Laboni compound in Cox's Bazar, intended to build a skilled, international-standard workforce for the tourism and hospitality industry.

He noted that plans for international-standard hotels on Bangladesh Parjatan Corporation land in Cox's Bazar, Sylhet, and Khulna have moved forward significantly, with demand and feasibility studies already completed by Dhaka University's Institute of Business Administration (IBA) through the Bangladesh Investment Development Authority (BIDA).

The Prime Minister said new Tourist Information Centers have opened at Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport and at Benapole, the nation's largest land port, to assist domestic and international travelers.

LED information boards are also being installed at major airports, land ports, and railway stations nationwide to make tourism-related information more accessible.

To keep visitors safe, volunteer teams have been deployed at popular tourist spots, and CCTV coverage is being expanded at these locations, the Prime Minister said, adding that feasibility studies for additional projects are ongoing, while virtual tours are also being prepared to promote the country's attractions to audiences abroad.

The government is working to create a more investment-friendly environment for both local and foreign investors in tourism, offering policy support to entrepreneurs while pushing major projects forward through public-private partnerships (PPP).

The Prime Minister added that efforts have also been intensified to promote eco-tourism, community-based tourism, and heritage and cultural tourism, alongside digital campaigns to strengthen Bangladesh's tourism brand internationally.

Participation in global tourism fairs and organized familiarization trips are also helping introduce the country's tourism offerings to audiences overseas, he said.

On improving service standards, the Prime Minister said the government regularly runs specialized training for tour operators, tourism entrepreneurs, amusement park staff, accommodation providers, and transport workers. Field-level training is also being offered to support community tourism, ethnic tourism, and water-based tourism, he said.

The National Hotel and Tourism Training Institute, run under Bangladesh Parjatan Corporation, remains the country's leading body for training tourism professionals. It currently offers programs such as a Diploma in Hotel Management, Tourism and Hospitality Management, Professional Chef Training, Front Office Operations, Housekeeping, and Food and Beverage Service.

The Prime Minister said the government has also launched an initiative to professionalize tour guiding, training guides specifically for archaeological, ethnic, and ecotourism sites. Under this program, the Parjatan Corporation trained 101 participants in May 2026.

He concluded by saying the government is coordinating closely with all relevant institutions to transform the country’s tourism sector into a modern, technology-driven, and foreign exchange-earning industry.

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