Faruk for capacity building of media for aggressive promotion of tourism

DHAKA, Nov 17, 2012 (BSS) - Civil Aviation and Tourism Minister Lt Col (retd) Faruk Khan today said capacity building of the media has become indispensable for projecting the country's tourist destinations and natural beauties before local and international tourists.

Media could play an important role in supplementing the government effort in flourishing the tourism sector to turn the country into an attractive tourist destination for tourists, he said, adding the government would provide the media with all out support to this end.

He was speaking at a roundtable titled 'Promotion of Tourism Industry: Role of Media' at Ruposhi Bangla Hotel in the city. Aviation and Tourism Journalists Forum (ATJFB) arranged the function in cooperation with Bangladesh Tourism Board (BTB).

Secretary of the Ministry Khurshed Alam addressed the roundtable as the special guest while Chairman of Civil Aviation Authority, Bangladesh (CAAB) Air Vice Marshal Mahmud Hussain and Chief Executive Officer of Bangladesh Tourism board (BTB) Aktaruz Zaman Khan Kabir spoke as guest of honour.

ATJFB convenor Nadira Kiron gave the welcome speech while its Office Secretary Kamal Uddin Ahmed gave the vote of thanks.

Editor of Bangladesh Monitor Kazi Wahidul Alam moderated the roundtable while Professor of Department of Tourism and Hospitality Management of Dhaka University Dr Mobina Khandokar and ATJFB Member Secretary Tanzim Anwar presented keynote papers separately.

Tour operators, representatives from hotel management and
travel industry also shared their views on the occasion.

Faruk Khan said Bangladesh has a number of unique tourist
destinations and those could be capitalized for promoting eco-
tourism.

He described the private sector as engine of economic growth
and urged the private sector stakeholders in the industry to come
up with investments to set up tourism related universities and
institutions to create skilled manpower.

In doing so, he said, the government is ready to give
necessary policy support, he added.

Khurshed Alam said the government plans tax rebate to give a
big boost to the tourism industry. He also said steps would be
taken to review the activities of Bangladesh Tourism Board so
that it can work more efficiently.

"The BTB is highly dominated by bureaucrats. So, inclusion of
private sector representatives in the state-run organization is
under the government's active consideration," he said.