A Day for the Globetrotters

Photos: Kazi Tahsin Agaz Apurbo

It's a day that celebrates the joy of all backpackers; lone travellers, group travellers, adventure lovers or whoever wants to be the part of one of the biggest global movements - travelling! It's a day that rejoices the success of the tourism industry, which every year generates trillions of dollars around the globe.

September 27 is marked as the United Nations' (UN) World Tourism Day, a day that is celebrated by globetrotters around the world every year. The date is befitting as Tourism Day as it appears at the end of the high tourist season in the Northern hemisphere and the start of the tourist season in the Southern hemisphere. 

In the recent years, the tourism industry has become a booming sector, as it plays a major role in enhancing the host country's economy. 

But tourism is not merely limited to numbers, monetary benefits and taxes flowing to the government. When the UN World Trade Organization General Assembly in 1979 declared World Tourism Day, it aimed to create strong bonds within the international community and increase awareness on the significance of tourism and its social, cultural, political and economic impact on both the host country and tourists. UNWTO's motto reflects this goal as it focuses on “the promotion of responsible, sustainable and universally accessible tourism.” 

On this day, the United Nations' World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) invites people from all over the world to be a part of the World Tourism Day. Besides, a number of tourism enterprises and concerned government agencies arrange an array of special events and festivals based on the chosen theme for that particular year. 

This year's theme, “One billion tourists, one billion opportunities,” mostly reflects the positive economic impact that tourists are making in the economic growth of several countries and subsequently, the effect they have on the livelihoods of the residents of those countries. While there are seminars, photo and writing contests promoting tourism, award presentations for sustainable eco-tourism are held on this day. Social media also seems a buzz with pictures and special offers, different tour related app launching ceremonies and many other such programmes.

Bangladesh, too, is getting ready for next year with its project 'Visit Bangladesh 2016' that aims to bring the tourism sector of the country in the forefront, by emphasising on the natural, archaeological and cultural assets that we are blessed with. Terming next year as the 'Year of Tourism', several advertising campaigns are being launched and a new tourism mega plan has been undertaken by the government, where it will invest $26 million.

Rashed Khan Menon, Minister of Tourism and Civil Aviation, is working on an ambitious target to increase the visit of foreign tourists in Bangladesh by 70 percent to one million in 2016.

In fact, many measures are being taken to secure Bangladesh's spot on the global tourist map. 

Cox's Bazaar has been chosen as a significant natural site to attract more tourists, while other places such as the Sundarbans, Sylhet and St. Martin's Island are also being promoted in order to develop eco-tourism and community-based tourism. 

For spiritual tourism, we are gearing up to welcome one million Chinese tourists to visit Buddhist heritages sites. The Civil Aviation and Tourism Ministry, in collaboration with the United Nations World Tourism Organisation (UNWTO), is going to arrange National Buddhist Workshop and International Buddhist Circuit Conference, which anticipates the participation of 13 Buddhism-centric countries this month. As a part of the celebrations of Tourism Year 2016, the conference aims to showcase over 500 Buddhist ancient monasteries and temples in Bangladesh to the foreigners to further enhance overall tourism.

The ministry is also working on establishing more tourist friendly trains, marine vessels and improving regional and international air connectivity by increasing flight frequencies while constructing new hotels to welcome tourists. Having said all, the safety and security of this anticipated foreign visitors need to be the first concern of the organising committee. 

We should not let this issue stand in the way of achieving our goal!