(MENAFN- Bangladesh Monitor) Dhaka :
Bangladesh, like other neighboring countries for adventure tourism is equally a unique place for potential youth travelers looking for fun and excitement.
The country has a lot of potential in the sector, but the government must take active initiative in developing mountaineering, rafting, rippling, paragliding, parachuting, hiking and trekking.
The speakers at a seminar on 'Promotion of Adventure Tourism in Bangladesh' organised by Bangladesh Parjatan Corporation, a national tourism administration on the second day of the 3-day Biman Bangladesh Travel and Tourism Fair 2018 at Bangabandu International Conference Centre (BICC).
The seminar moderated by BPC Chairman Akhtaruzzaman Khan Kabir was addressed by J. P. Shaw, Regional Director (East), Indian Ministry of Tourism, Sinan Thourn, chairman PATA Cambodia Chapter, Syed G. Qadir, CEO of Adventure Escape Asia, Sampath Erapola, president of Sri Lanka Association of Bangladesh, Sunil Sharma, Director of Nepal Tourism Board, Syed Akhteruzzaman Spondon, CEO of Beyond Adventure & Tourism, Sajjid Tanjil, Base Camp, Najir Jillany, Executive Director of Akij Foods and Beverage and Taufiq Uddin Ahmed, president of Tour Operators Association of Bangladesh (TOAB).
Adventure tourism is experiencing an unprecedented growth globally, Bangladesh neighbouring countries Nepal and Maldives are earning huge revenue by offering diverse tour options.
The said tourism is a vibrant, dynamic, and fast-changing sector with new variants routinely added into the possible experiences. Only adventure tourism offers opportunities to entrepreneurs in rural areas, outbacks and backwaters.
Bangladesh currently offers tourist's trekking in Chittagong Hill Tracts and enjoyment of rives and rills crossing throughout the largest mangrove forests, the Sunderbans, UNESCO declared world's heritage.
Recently group cycling tourism is on the rise across the country, with an increasing number of adventure tourists embarking on both road and mountain biking tours in Chittagong Hill Tracts.
In the new lists of adventure tourism, Bangladesh has already able to write its name in Guiness World Records, an event organised by BDCyclists, a non-profit social community aims to promote locals to cycle to work.
An incredible 1,186 cyclists set a Guinness World Record for the longest single line of moving bikes down the Purbachal Highway in to commemorate the Victory Day on 16 December 2016, breaking the previous record of 984 that was achieved in 2015 during the Sarajevo Grand Prix in Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina.
Parjatan Chairman said Bangladesh has stepped into fifth year of adventure tourism and adventure tourism products are abundant, but there is need for trained operators and professional guides.
BPC is planning for training of operator, guides as well as training for base camp for high altitude adventure. A 40-feet artificial rock climbing wall is planned and will be open for traing soon.
Most speakers urged the state run national tourism administration and the government to be partners in development of soft tourism and adventure tourism to promote smiling and hospitable people.
The speakers at the seminar stressed with dramatic rise of adventure tourism the need for responsible and community tour operators, to ensure sustainable tourism in the country.
It was also mooted that security, safety and food hygiene should be top priority of the tour operators.
Indian Tourist Board official said, it is primarily important to focus of number of days of stay, instead of numbers of tourists.
J. P. Shaw said the regional bus services will open a new horizon for land tourism soon when the buses from -Siliguri- Kakarbhitta-Kathmandu will begin. A trial run of the bus service has begun and is hopeful that it will open for passengers soon.
There is huge opportunity for Bangladesh, India Nepal tour operators for forging joint ventures in tourism, he said.
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