Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has given the following message on the occasion of the World Tourism Day 2017:
“I am happy to know that Bangladesh is celebrating the ‘World Tourism Day 2017′ as elsewhere in the world. I believe, the theme of this year, `Sustainable Tourism-a Tool for Development’, is appropriate.
The greatest Bangali of all time, Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman established Bangladesh Parjatan Corporation in 1972 realizing the huge potential of tourism in Bangladesh.
Sustainable Tourism is one of the tools of United Nations’ SDGs. The important role of tourists, stakeholders and people is mentioned through this tool to improve total tourism. The National Tourism Policy enacted in 2010 laid importance on different steps on improving sustainable tourism.
Our government has been working based on particular action plan to present Bangladesh’s huge tourism potential to all types of tourists from home and abroad. Local people have been included to improve tourism. Through creating employment, the importance has been given on Community Based Tourism to alleviate poverty of grassroot level people. Alongside, the government has been working to create awareness among all concerned to carry out `responsible tourism’ without harming biodiversity, environment and heritage. Initiatives have been undertaken to increase capability of the stakeholders and people related to this industry. Maintaining environmental balance, various facilities have been introduced in tourist spots aimed at a coordinated and total development of tourism.
I would like to urge all concerned to participate spontaneously to improve people’s living standard by carrying out tourism development activeities upholding environmental balance and country’s cultural heritage.
I hope that we can build a poverty-hunger-free and happy-prosperous Golden Bangladesh as dreamt by Father of the Nation Sheikh Mujibur Rahman.
I wish the ‘World Tourism Day 2017’ a grand success.
Joi Bangla, Joi Bangabandhu
May Bangladesh Live Forever.”