Coxs Bazar -Research Paper-L

8/12/2019 Coxs Bazar -Research Paper-L

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An Evaluation of Economic Prospects and Constraints of Coxs Bazar

-A Rising Tourist Spot in the orld

!r" #ir A$dul Sofi%ue

Associate Professor&!epartment of Tourism #anagement&

The 'niversit( of Burd)an&

Burd)an * +,,./& est Bengal& 0ndia#o$ * 1,-1//2+334

Email- masofi%ue5(ahoo"co"in

An Evaluation of Economic Prospects and Constraints of Coxs Bazar -A Rising Tourist Spot in the orld

A$stract

Present study mainly examines potential tourism products of Coxs Bazar (a major touristss

zone) and its nearer areas, present performance of Bangladesh tourism and prevailing

constraints and challenges of the same. he study results reveal that Bangladesh has huge

prospects to flourish its economy through tourism and the !orld recognized heritage "Coxs

Bazar has many tourism products to attract !orld!ide tourists. But due to lac# of resource

constraints and other reasons government initiatives are not ade$uate to develop (specially

infrastructure) tourism in the country and so, this industry is still unexplored to most potential

tourists of the !orld. he study concludes that %oth government and private interventions are

vital to develop and modernize the Coxs Bazaar (tourist capital of the country) including other

potential tourism spots of Bangladesh.

Key Words:ourism Products, &ro!th rend of ourism, Pu%lic and Private 'ector nitiatives.

," 0ntroduction,", Bac6ground

!t is "idel# recognized that the tourism industr# is ma$ing a significant contri%ution to

the socio-economic development of man# countries in the Asian and Pacific region

through its role in expanding their economic %ase& increasing foreign exchange earnings&

providing emplo#ment opportunities and enhancing standards of living 'ESCAP T()R!S*

+


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RE,!E ..+/0The ne" millennium and the coming decades are a crucial time for the

relationship %et"een travel and tourism and sustaina%le development0 The need to

preserve the "orlds inherent assets for future generations is %ecoming an imperative goal

not onl# for travel and tourism& %ut also for all other industries that use the earths natural

resources0 Travel and Tourism is one of the "orlds largest industries& emplo#ing some

.. million people and generating over +.1 of the "orlds 23P 'TTC& ..4/0 Tourism

industr# is no" recognized as the orld5s third largest trade0 !t is a leading industr# of

the +st centur# 'Siddi6ue ..7/0

According to the report of orld Tourism (rganization& the "orld"ide tourist movement

reached 898 million in ..:0 This affiliated %od# of the )nited ;ation forecasts that %#

.+. international tourist arrivals "ill reach + %illion annuall# 'ee$l# Economic Times&

April 7& ..8/0The revenues generated %# those tourists& i0e0 international tourism receipts&

amounted to )S


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"orld 'BPC& ..7/0 Presentl#& it holds important position in the competition of "orlds

natural %eaut#- ne" seven "onders '"""0ne":"onders0com@nature/. So& this industr#

has great potentials %oth as a foreign exchange earner and provider of o% opportunities

"ith the resultant multiplier effect on the countr#s econom# as a "hole 'Rahman& ..:/0

o"ever& the potentials of this sector in Bangladesh still remain unexplored %# parties

concerned mainl# due to poor infrastructure facilities and deterioration of la" and order

s#stem 'corruption and terrorism/& "hereas this sector in different countries is a maor

source of revenue& emplo#ment generation and povert# alleviation 'The ;e"s Toda#

e%ruar# +8& ..8/0

Rationale of the Stud(

or at least one third of the developing countries& the tourism receipts are the main source

of export revenue0 The exceptional gro"th of tourism over the last =. #ears is one of the

most remar$a%le economic and social phenomena& of the +st centur# 'Amin& ..7/0 The

scale of travel and tourisms contri%ution to the glo%al econom# and its potential for

ena%ling sustaina%le development are %ecoming more evident for governments& non-

governmental organizations ';2(s/ and industr# ali$e ');EP& ../0 Tourism "as

thought of %# the D3Cs& as the Cinderella "and used for ac6uiring the much "anted

foreign exchange 'Bro"n& +998/ for managing their fragile and declining economies&

characterized %# insufficient finance and expertise& "hich in turn ma$es them dependent

on international aid 'Briedenhann and ic$ens ..4F 3ie$e& ..G/0

Tourism industr# in Bangladesh is %ecoming an emerging issue %oth for the pu%lic and

private sector to esta%lish their eligi%ilit# for accomplishing a successful %usiness as "ell

as mar$eting activities development 'A$teruzzaman H !shtia6ue ..+ p0+.:/0/0 Bangladesh

is fast emerging as an alluring tourist spot on the glo%al map0 !t is a land of diverse

attractions& %ountiful nature and millions of friendl# people "ith more than a millennium

of cultural heritage0 The countr# has failed to utilize even +. per cent of its tourism

potential due to lac$ of sufficient steps and entrepreneurship %# the government and

private sectors 'The 3ail# Star *a# +9& ..7/0 e need to ta$e pragmatic steps including

developing our "e%sites to increase international tourist flo" to our countr#0 Cam%odia

has its tourism "e%sites in eight languagesF Thailand& *ala#sia& !ndonesia in +

languages& and "e have ours onl# in one language& in English0 Extensive training&

G


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increased government %udget and a long-term polic# "ill give a %oost to the tourism and

hospitalit# industr# that hold tremendous potentials in Bangladesh 'The ;e"s Toda#

e%ruar# +8& ..8/0 San Amalan& the 2eneral *anger of estin 3ha$a opined that the

num%er of tourists "ill mar$ a rise in Chittagong cit# if high 6ualit# hotels are set up at

the port cit#& $no"n as the commercial hu% of the countr#0 e also expressed the hope

that Bangladesh should leave no stone unturned in inviting foreign direct investment

'3!/ to develop road communications& construct motels and hotels& renovate old and

historical places and monuments and protect mangroves and green areas '!%id/0 !f the

government lifted visa restrictions on citizens of Europe& )SA and other "estern

countries& around . la$h foreign tourists "ould visit Bangladesh "ithin next couple of

#ears '!%id/0 To get the enormous %enefit of tourism& our government needs to shed its

?polic# of reciprocit#? regarding issuance of visa to foreign nationals0 ''asan& ..7/0

rom the a%ove revie"s and discussions& it is seen that the development of the tourism

industr# has %een constrained for man# reasons and as a result& it has not %een possi%le to

earn the desired amount of foreign currenc# or to create emplo#ment opportunities that

this sector could provide0

!n recent time& some researches have done on the different issues of tourism industr# of

Bangladesh such asI tourism management and development& pro%lems and prospects of

tourism industr#& investment opportunities& role and contri%ution of tourism in the

econom# etc0 or instance& studies done and reports and ne"sletter pu%lished %#

'Siddi6ue'..7/& A$teruzzaman H !shtia6ue '..+/ asan '.../ highlight on pro%lems

and prospects of Bangladesh tourism0 ;e"sletter pu%lished %# Em%ass# of Bangladesh&

Stoc$holm '..:/& Jhan '..+/& o6ue 'n0d0/+evaluate investment opportunities in the

tourism industr# of Bangladesh& (n the other hand research conducted %# Si$der Kahed

usain and ussain *d0 *oazzam 7+998/& discusses and anal#zes a%out tourism

management and development of Bangladesh0 ee$l# Economic Times April 7 ..8&BPC '..7/& TTC '..=/& Siddi6ue'..G/ examines prospects of Bangladesh tourism

industr#0 *izan Jhan and *ahfuzul a6ue 'see B!*STEC->apan cooperation in

Tourism and EnvironmentI Bangladesh Perspective& *a# ..:/ provide a valua%le

anal#sis on Bangladesh5s tourism sector0 The# note the strengths& "ea$nesses&

+n0d0- 3ate of pu%lication is not mentioned0

4


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opportunities and threats faced %# the sector0 But so far& no research is done on Coxs

Bazar 'tourism capital of Bangladesh/ independentl# to flourish its economic via%ilit# as

"ell as constraints0 !n this regard& this research is an initiative to ma$e up the gap %# the

researcher0

Stud( 8$9ectives

The main focus of this stud# is to criticall# evaluate various potentials and performance

of tourism sector of Bangladesh in general and The Coxs Bazar Spot in particular0 To

have a proper idea a%out the issue the stud# includes the follo"ing aspects as follo"s:

!0 To discuss a%out historical %ac$ground of Cox5s Bazar Spot as a tourism capital of

Bangladesh and its nearer potential tourism productsF

!!0 To anal#ze the present position as "ell as performance of tourism industr# of

Bangladesh in generalF and Cox5s Bazar in particularF

!!!0 To evaluate development initiatives and investment opportunities for developing

tourism infrastructure "ith international competitivenessF

0;" To identif# various constraints and challenges of tourism industr# in Bangladesh

and finall# to suggest some pragmatic and realistic polic# measures for

meaningful tourism development in Bangladesh

Stud( !esign

Present stud# is a descriptive one dra"ing on empirical data and a "ide range of

literature from a variet# of disciplines& %ased on extensive search from various sources0

The des$ research method has %een follo"ed to revie" the existing literature on the

aforesaid area0 Secondar# materials& li$e Report of Bangladesh Paraton Corporation

'various issues/& Tourism Statistics of Bangladesh& ..4& Asian 3evelopment (utloo$&

);T(& TTC Report& the dail# ne"s papers& seminar papers& );CTAR3 Report-&

online data%ases produced %# %oth academicians& consulting firms and institutions "ere

used to develop the theoretical frame "or$ regarding economic prospects of Bangladesh

Tourism !ndustr# and its existing constraints and challenges0 Besides& informal intervie"

method "as follo"ed to discuss "ith the administrative officials of some service

=


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providing organization in Coxs Bazaar spot0 Statistical tools li$e average& percentage&

have %een used to anal#ze and interpret the data and information0

istorical Bac6ground of Cox?s Bazar and its

;arious Potential Tourism Products

istorical Bac6ground of Cox?s Bazar

JL$sho Baar or JL$s Bazar is a to"n& a fishing port and district head6uarter in

Bangladesh0 !t is $no"n for its "ide sand# %each "hich is claimed to %e the "orld5s

longest natural sand# sea%each'+. $m/0 *iles of golden sands& to"ering cliffs& surfing

"aves& rare conch shells& colorful pagodas& Buddhist temples and tri%es& delightful

seafood--this is Cox5s Bazar& the tourist capital of Bangladesh0 The "arm shar$ free

"aters are good for %athing and s"imming "hile the sand# %eaches offer opportunities

for sun%athing0 *iles of golden sands& to"ering cliffs& surfing "aves& rare conch shells&

colorful pagodas& Buddhist temples and tri%es& delightful seafood--this is Cox5s Bazar& the

tourist capital of Bangladesh0 The to"n is named after lieutenant Cox& "ho died here in

+:98 after he had esta%lished a colon# of *oth "ho sought shelter in British territor#

after the con6uest of Ara$an %# the Burmese0 T"o third of the population of the to"n are

descendants of these refugees0 aving the "orld5s longest '+.-$m/ %each slopping

gentl# do"n to the %lue "aters of the Ba# of Bengal& Cox5s Bazar is the most attractive

tourist spot in the countr#0

The attractive local variet# of cigars and handloom products of the Ra$h#ne tri%al

families are good %u#s for the tourists0 Their uni6ue customs and costumes attract visitors

from home and a%road0 Coxs Bazar tourist resort has a mine hole 2olf course in addition

to varied other tourist facilities0 ,isits to the fascinating spots at !nani& imchari& Te$naf&

southern most tip of Bangladesh& Buddhist temple at Ramu and near%# islands of

Sonadia& *ohesh$hali and coral island St0 *artin are a memora%le experience of a

lifetime0 Docal hotels arrange %eachside accessories for the tourists at Cox5s Bazar The

7
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Porthttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cox's_Bazar_Districthttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bangladeshhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Beachhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kilometrehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Porthttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cox's_Bazar_Districthttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bangladeshhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Beachhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kilometre


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%each is the main attraction of the to"n0 Darger hotels provide exclusive %eachside area

"ith accessories for the hotel guests0 ,isitors in other hotels visit the Da%oni %each "hich

is the area of the %each closest to the to"n0 (ther than the %each there are several places

of interest near the to"n "hich can easil# %e visited from to"n center0


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are monasteries& $h#angs and pagodas containing images of Buddha in gold&

%ronze and other metals inlaid "ith precious stones0 (ne of the most interesting of

these temples is on the %an$ of the Bagh$hali River0 !t houses not onl# interesting

relics and Burmes handicrafts %ut also a large %ronze statue of Buddha measuring

thirteen feet high that rests on a six feet high pedestal0 The "ood carving of this

$h#ang is ver# delicate and refined0 The village has a charm of its o"n0 eavers

pl# there trade in open "or$shops and craftsmen ma$e handmade cigars in their

pagoda li$e houses '"""0%angladesh tourism0gov0%d@/0

8ther 0mportant Tourist Spots near the Cox?s Bazar

#ahesh6haliI !t is a small island '78 s6uare $ilometres/ off the Coxs

Bazar coast0 The island offers panoramic scenic %eaut# and is covered %# lo" hills

and mangrove forests0 Adinath& a temple of Shiva&and a Buddhistpagodaare also

located on the island0

!ulhazra Safari Par6I This safari par$ is an extension of an animal

sanctuar# located along the Chittagong-Cox5s Bazar road a%out =. $m from Cox5s

Bazar to"n0 The sanctuar# itself protects a large num%er of "ild elephants "hich

are native to the area0 !n the safari par$ there are domesticated elephants "hich are

availa%le for a ride0 (ther animal attractions include lions& Bengal tigers&

Crocodiles& Bears& Chitals and lots of different t#pes of %irds and mon$e#s0

Sonadia 0sland: A small island of onl# 9 s6uare $ilometers0 The "estern side

of the island is sand# and different $inds of shells are found on the %each0 (ff the

northern part of the island& there are %eds of "indo" pane o#sters0 3uring "inter&

fisherman set up temporar# camps on the island and dr# their sea fish0 Sonadia

!sland supports the last remaining part of mangrove forest in southeast Bangladesh0

Sonadia5s mangroves are distinct from the "ell-$no"n sunder%ans& due to their

development in a coastal lagoon setting rather than in a delta0

Te6naf& a place situated %# the side of;af riveris the southernmost part of

mainland Bangladesh0 This also mar$s the end point of Cox5s Bazar %each0 Tourists

usuall# come here to have a river cruise along %eautiful ;af river& "hich flo"s

%et"een Bangladesh and *#anmar0

8
http://www.bangladesh/http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mangrovehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shivahttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pagodahttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sonadia_Islandhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Square_kilometerhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sunderbanshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Teknafhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Naf_Riverhttp://www.bangladesh/http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mangrovehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shivahttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pagodahttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sonadia_Islandhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Square_kilometerhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sunderbanshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Teknafhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Naf_River


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St" #artin?s 0sland& a small island in the northeast part of the Ba# of Bengal&

a%out 9 $m south of the tip of the Cox5s Bazar-Te$naf peninsula0 !t is the most

%eautiful and onl# coral island in Bangladesh"here tourists "ill find live corals0 !t

is onl# G. $m from Te$naf and visitors can go there %# local motor%oat& tourist

%oats& Jeari Sinda%ad or Sea Truc$0 This small coral island a%out +.$m '7mi/

south"est of the southern tip of the mainland is a tropical clich "ith %eaches

fringed "ith coconut palms and %ountiful marine life0 !t is a%out 8 $m "est of the

north"est coast of *#anmarat the mouth of the;af River0 The local name of the

island is ?;arical 2ingira >anina@>inera?& Bangla& meaning 5Coconut

!sland5'httpI@@en0"i$ipedia0org@"i$i@Cox5sMBazar/0

rom the a%ove anal#sis& it can %e said that the tourism industr# of Bangladesh ingeneral and Coxs Bazar spot in particular has great potentials %oth as a foreign

exchange earner and provider of o% opportunities "ith the resultant multiplier

effect on the countr#s econom# as a "hole0


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Source:Ta%le O+ in Appendix-+

Source:Ta%le O+ in Appendix-+

The A%ove charts sho" the gro"th performance of tourist arrivals and income from

travel and tourism in Bangladesh over the #ears0 The overall gro"th trend of tourist

arrivals sho" disappointing picture except the #ear ..G0 o"ever& in the fiscal #ear

..7-..:& arrival of foreign tourists in Bangladesh gre" %# G=1 from the previous #ear

'*edia Bangladesh& April& ..8/0 But the actual gro"th in the last five #ears is almost nil

'Ta%le O+ in Appendix -+/0 (n the other hand& chart-2 reveals the overall gro"th

performance of income from tourism0 The period +998-..& the gro"th trend of income@

foreign exchange sho"s ver# unsatisfactor# picture for Bangladesh0 But later #ears

performance sho"s satisfactor# position except the #ear ..70 !f "e compare the

SAARC tourists arrivals "e can easil# see the condition of Bangladesh0

Chart-3: Sho)ing 0nternational Tourists Arrivals in SAARC Countries from ,11+-


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Source:Ta%le O in Appendix-+

!n comparison "ith SAARC countries statistics& Bangladeshs share from tourism is not

up to the mar$0 The a%ove Chart- 3reveals that in case of international tourist arrivals to

SAARC countries& !ndia occupies the first position and second position is occupied %#

*aldivesF Sri Dan$a is in the third position& then Pa$istan and others0 Bangladesh has not

%een a%le to reap the full %enefits from this sector according to its potentialit#0

Bangladesh has a host of tourist treasures to offer to international tourists - %eaches&

la$es& rivers& hills& forests& "ildlife& tri%al life& archaeological remains& including

historical monuments& fol$lore& religious and cultural heritage& handicrafts and much

more0 All these& com%ined& are enormous tourist products for international tourists& "hich

properl# exploited& can fetch the countr# its due share of the ever-expanding "orlds

tourist trade0

!n the a%ove context if "e compare the recent gro"th performance of tourist arrivals of

SASECcountries including Bangladesh& "e can see the %right future of this industr# in

Bangladesh0 The %elo" chart -4 reveals the economic gro"th of tourists arrivals of

SASEC countries0

SASEC-South Asian Su% regional Economic Cooperation

++

Chart-4

$5.00

0.00

5.00

10.00

15.00

20.00

change %3$)

angladesh -ndia &epal hutan

ro!th Trend of Tourists Arrivals to SAS"C countries since #$$%&

'

4hange 200230*

4hange 1++530*


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SourceI Ta%le O4 in Appendix -+

The a%ove chart reveals ver# attractive gro"th performance of Bangladesh ':081/in case

of tourist arrivals compared to other SASEC countries since +99= to ..G/0 !n the same

period& the chart-4 also sho" gro"th trend of !ndia 'G0:1/& Bhutan 'G09 1/ and ;epal 'O

+0=1/ respectivel#0 Besides& in the #ear ..:& arrival of foreign tourists in Bangladesh

gre" %# G=1 from the previous #ear '..7/& "here in !ndia& the same #ear& the gro"th

trend of tourism is +0G4 1 'The &ew &ation 'a" 20( 2008/0 rom the a%ove anal#sis& it

is cr#stal clear that tourism sector of Bangladesh has huge prospects to %e an important

driving force of rapid economic development of the countr#0 or Bangladesh& it should %e

a matter of great opportunit# to enrich its econom# %# developing its tourism sector&

"hich unfortunatel# has %een at lo" e%% and could not %e an# significant contri%utor#

factor for its economic development0

ul# +7 ..8/0 All the governments of Bangladesh-

past and present-transmitted strong signals a%out their seriousness to put tourism

development on right-trac$ and to secure for the countr# some %enefits of current

"orld"ide tourism %oom0 But all the promises and assurances "ere contradicted %# not

providing ade6uate funds for the development of tourism infrastructure and promotion of

Bangladesh to dispel its negative image 'Siddi6ue ..7/0 According to the official

sources& for the development of tourism sector in Bangladesh& around T$0 =: crore had

%een earmar$ed in the national %udget '..:-.8/& "hich "as 0+ percent of the total

+


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government expenditure %ut in the latest %udget '..8-.9/ no allocation "as made for

tourism development 'The Bangladesh *onitor& >ul# += ..8/0

ollo"ing the independence of Bangladesh& tourism development plans "ere prepared

"ith foreign assistance0 The latest five-#ear development plan and other perspective planson tourism development "ere prepared "ith assistance from the orld Tourism

(rganization 'T(/ and the )nited ;ations 3evelopment Programme ');3P/0

3omestic private sector investments in the development of this industr# have %een made

in an uncoordinated manner& so the# have not achieved an# remar$a%le progress 'Jhan

..+/0 o"ever& considering various prospective economic %enefits and glo%al

competition&the present careta$er government has initiated an effort to create a ne"

;ational Tourism (rganization ';T(/ to put tourism on right trac$ and $ic$-start its

development0 Series of meetings of sta$eholders are no" %eing held to exchange vie"s to

give final shape to the proposed ;T( 'The Bangladesh *onitor& >ul# + ..8/0 !n the first

ever roundta%le on immediate needs to develop tourism in Bangladesh %rought together

all the sta$eholders of tourism industr# and identified a num%er of immediate actions to

%e ta$en to set the development on right trac$'The Bangladesh *onitor& >une +7& ..8/I

As recommended in $e#note paper& *ah%u% >amil& Special Assistant to Chief Adviser&

in-charge of the *inistr# of Civil Aviation and Tourism announced that la" concerning

formation of ;ational Tourism Authorit# ';TA/ is in final stage and the authorit# is

li$el# to come next month '>ul#/0

e also said that the proposed ;TA "ould %e po"erful and independent0 !n drafting the

concerned la"& structures of national tourism organizations of *ala#sia& Singapore&

Thailand& ;epal and Sri Dan$a have %een studied0 The proposed ;TA "ould perform the

o% of regulator and facilitator0

The %usiness in tourism industr# "ill %e left for %usinessmen0

The Special Assistant to Chief Adviser said the 6uestion of countr# %randing "ould %e

ta$en up after the formation of ;TA0 3evelopment of infrastructure "ould also %e ta$en

up according to short& medium and long-term plans0

Polic# of pu%lic private partnership "ould %e follo"ed in developing tourism

infrastructure0 e said that the government should ta$e the lead in this %uilding

infrastructure and "ould leave the field o%s to the private sector0 A%out the negative

image of the countr#& *ah%u% >amil said& ?e are greatl# responsi%le for that0? e

+G


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mentioned practice of securit# screening at hotels in 3ha$a and said that this ma$es the

visitors apprehensive "ithout an# valid reason0

o"ever& the success of the effort rests on the final outcome and the a%ilit# of the

proposed ;T(@;TA to translate the vision %ehind its creation into realit#0 The past

experience in this regard is %itter0 e can recall the fate of current ;T(-the Bangladesh

Paratan Corporation 'BPC/0 The vision and purpose %ehind creation of BPC as a

corporation& "as to free it from government control0 But ta$ing advantage of ade6uate

legal protection& it "as turned into an organization& "orse than a government department0

BPC eno#ed no freedom even to spend its o"n earnings& emplo#& promote or transfer its

emplo#ees0 Di$e government department it received no fund from revenue %udget ' The

Bangladesh *onitor& >ul# + ..8/0Besides& as a main and onl# government institution in

tourism development& BPCs existing initiatives are not up to the mar$ to meet glo%al

competition0 !t fails to attract foreign tourists due to some limitations 'The ;e" ;ation&

3ecem%er 7 ..7/0Resource constraint ma# %e one of the main limitations of government

intervention to develop tourism sector "idel# in Bangladesh0


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the private sector to pla# a positive role in the development and diversification of tourist

facilities and to promote domestic and international tourism in the countr#0

!n the a%ove context& present careta$er government is highl# $een to stimulate the

econom# and transform a povert#-stric$en econom# "ithin short time0 2overnment hasli%eralized the industrial and investment policies in recent #ears %# reducing %ureaucratic

control over private investment and opening up man# areas0 *aor incentives are sho"n

in the as follo"ing figure -+I

=igure -,: Sho)ing ma9or incentives for =oreign 0nvestors in Bangladesh

+0 Tax ExemptionsI 2enerall# = to : #ears0 o"ever& for po"er generation exemption isallo"ed for += #ears0

0 3ut#I ;o import dut# for export oriented industr#0 or other industr# it is =1 ad valorem0

G0 Tax Da"I i0 3ou%le taxation can %e avoided in case of foreign investors on the%asis of %ilateral agreements0ii0 Exemption of income tax up to G #ears for the expatriateemplo#ees in industries specified in the relevant schedule of !ncomeTax ordinance0

40 RemittanceI acilities for full repatriation of invested capital profit and divided0

=0 ExitIAn investor can "ind up on investment either through a decision ofthe A2* or E2*0 (nce a foreign investor completes the formalitiesto exit the countr#& he or she can repatriate the sales proceeds aftersecuring proper authorization from the Central Ban$0

70 ("nershipIoreign investor can set up ventures either "holl# o"ned on in ointcolla%oration "ith local partner0

Source:B(! Report& ..8 site availa%le atI httpI@@"""0%oi0gov0%d@investMincentive0php

3ue to ta$ing some drastic measures to open investment climate in Bangladesh& recentl#&

some domestic private organizations li$e the Concord roup and othershaveseen coming

for"ard0 To esta%lish and develop tourism in Bangladesh& Concord 2roup has ta$en some

proects li$e antas# Jingdom& ater Jingdom& and eritage Par$ etc0& especiall# in 3ha$a

and Chittagong0 But no foreign investment is seen in this prospective industr# in Bangladeshli$e other sector till toda#0 o"ever& recentl#& foreign investors have sho"n $een interest to

invest in tourism development of Bangladesh0

Proposed investment offers to develop Coxs Bazar and nearest tourism sites

+=


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Ras Al Jhaimah ro#al famil# is interested to invest )S


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ac6 of #odern and Ade%uate Recreation =acilities

Although Cox&s Bazar Spot is treated as a tourism capital of Bangladesh& its recreation

facilities #et to developed0 Existing recreation facilities are not modern and sufficient

according to the demand of the tourists especiall# for foreign tourists0 or example&

%oating& "ind surfing& horse racing and other modern pla#ing instruments "ith local

recreation facilities etc0 are not availa%le in the Coxs Bazaar and other tourism spots of

Bangladesh0

egative 0mpact of Securit( and Safet(

Social securit# and safet# have great impact on tourism development in an# region li$e

Bangladesh0 Securit# s#stem is #et to develop in the main cities of all tourists spots Coxs

Bazaar0 The condition of securit# and safet# are ver# disappointing in the roadsides for

tourists coming especiall# from Chittagong to Coxs Bazar and other spots0 3ue to

$idnapping and hiac$ing issues& foreign tourists are reluctant to sta# longer period in

Cox&s Bazar 'Amin & ..7& Siddi6ue& ..7/0 This issue leads to loss huge foreign

currencies of the countr#0 *oreover& due to lac$ of sufficient securit# foreign tourists

seldom sta# in the %each area after evening time to eno# the rare natural %eaut# 'during

sunset/ "ithout an# anxiet#0

Countr(?s Poor 0mage

Bangladesh& "hose image a%road tends to revolve round its %eing one of the poorest

countries in the "orld and prone to natural calamities li$e flood and c#clone& is not an

o%vious tourist destination0 The tourism industr# has also suffered significantl# due to the

%om% attac$s in the #ear ..=0 !n addition to this& negative image of the countr# in the

international tourism mar$et has not helped change the vie" of the est for Bangladesh

ac6 of >uman Resources in !ifferent Par9atan Sector:

Trained human resources pla# vital role to develop tourism in an# region li$e

Bangladesh0 !n this regard Bangladesh Paratan Corporation has esta%lished ;ational

otel Tourism Training ';TT!/ in +9:40 A t"o-#ear diploma course on otel-

*anagement has %een started in ..0 o"ever& the a%ove initiatives of BPC are not

sufficient to meet needs of all tourist spots in the countr#0 Besides& some recent research

+:


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findings 'Siddi6ui ..7& Rahman ..:& and Parveen ..8/ prove that still there are acute

shortage of tourism experts in most hotels and motets of tourist areas in Bangladesh0

;isa Pro$lems

,isa polic# of government is one of the main reasons %ehind the foreign tourists5

un"illingness to visit Bangladesh0 !f the government lifts visa restrictions for visitors

from Europe& )SA and other "estern countries& around . la$h foreign tourists "ill come

to Bangladesh in a couple of #ears 0;o" it re6uires a%out += to . da#s for a Bangladeshi

visa even for a European citizen 7The !ail( Star& #a(


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li%eralizing scopes and facilities for esta%lishing a transparent legal frame"or$0

*oreover& as "e have resource constraints and our per capita income is ver# poor ')Sasan =aru%ue'..7/& QBut does it enrich Bangladesh& The 3ail# Star& Septem%er :&..70

>asan& S"R" 7...@&Pro%lems and prospects of Bangladesh Tourism !ndustr#?& %ureau ofBusiness Research& )niversit# of 3ha$a ...0

>ua !u& 7..8@& IBangladesh Econom#I (pportunities and Challenges& AmericanCham%er of Commerce in Bangladesh& Asian 3evelopment Ban$ +: >une ..8& siteavaila%le atI httpI@@"""0ad%0org@3ocuments@[email protected]@sp..8.G+0asp

EASCAP 7EC(;(*!C A;3 S(C!AD C(**!SS!(; (R AS!A A;3 TE PAC!!C/ T()R!S*

RE,!E&;o0 +& )nited ;ations& availa%le atIhttp:DD)))"unescap"orgDttd)DPu$licationsDTPTSKpu$sDTorevie)Ko


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The !ail( Star& *a# 9& ..8& The !ail( Star *a# +9 ..7

The !ail( Star& August = ..8& availa%le atI httpI@@"""0thedail#star0net@stor#0php nidUG9::

'EP- )nited ;ation Environment Preservation 7


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Ta$le-


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Coxs Bazar -Research Paper-L

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