Developing community tourism

World Tourism Day is celebrated every year on September 27. This year Bangladesh also celebrated this day under the theme “tourism and community development”, focusing on the ability of tourism to empower people and provide them with skills to effect changes in the local communities.

Though tourism is an infant industry lacking government allocation for its development, it has a contribution to GDP. According to a report by the World Travel and Tourism Council (WTTC) in 2013, travel and tourism in Bangladesh directly generated 1,281,500 jobs in 2012 or 1.8 percent of the country's total employment, which ranked Bangladesh 157 out of 178 countries worldwide. This organisation predicted that by 2023, travel and tourism related activities will directly generate 1,785,000 jobs and support an overall total of 3,891,000 jobs or 4.2 percent of the country's total employment.

Development of tourism will benefit us economically, socially, as well as culturally. Skilled and semi-skilled jobs will be created which will ensure economic development of the communities near the tourism spots. Infrastructure developed for tourists can be used by both tourists and the local people. For example, when a road is developed for providing easy transportation, it can be used by the local people.

Gopal Paul
Department of Tourism and Hospitality Management
University of Dhaka