(MENAFN- Bangladesh Monitor) Dhaka: The three-day international tourism fair – NOVOAIR Dhaka Travel Mart-2019 is set to begin on Thursday, March 21 at the Ball Room of Pan Pacific Sonargaon Dhaka in the city. Md Mahbub Ali, State Minister, Minister for Civil Aviation and Tourism, will formally inaugurate the fair as Chief Guest at 11 am.
The Bangladesh Monitor, leading travel trade fortnightly is organising the fair for the 16th time. Country's leading private sector airline NOVOAIR is supporting the event as Title Sponsor. Bangladesh Tourism Board, Biman Bangladesh Airlines and Mutual Trust Bank are the partners while Nepal has joined the tourism fair as the Partner Country.
Raquib Siddiqi, Chief Editor, The Bangladesh Monitor, was speaking to the media at a press conference, held at Pan Pacific Sonargaon Dhaka today.
Among others, Dr. Bhubon Chandra Biswas, CEO, Bangladesh Tourism Board, Akhtar Uzzaman Khan Kabir, Chairman, Bangladesh Parjatan Corporation, Mes-bah
Islam, Head of Marketing and Sales, NOVOAIR, Shakil Meraj, General Manager – Public Relations, Biman Bangladesh Airlines, Azam Khan, Group Chief Communications Officer, Mutual Trust Bank Ltd. and Diwakar B. Rana, Senior Manager, Nepal Tourism Board spoke on the occasion.
Raquib Siddiqi in his speech said, 'The Bangladesh Monitor since its inception for the last 27 years has been working for the development of the country's tourism sector. Among many other initiatives, we have been organising Dhaka Travel Mart since 2002.'
'Over the years, we have seen many quality changes taking place in Bangladesh's tourism sector. The tourism infrastructure has developed, encouraging trend of foreign tourist arrival continues, private initiatives are playing leading roles while tourism products and services are going through continuous diversification.'
'According to WTTC, Bangladesh's tourism sector contributed to 2.2 per cent of the national GDP in 2017. By 2028, the growth rate of this sector will be 6.2 per cent. In 2028, the sector's contribution to the GDP will be USD 10,235.7 million,' he added.
Diwakar B. Rana, Senior Manager, Nepal Tourism Board, said, 'According to the data of 2018, tourist arrivals from Bangladesh amounted to 25,959 out of total number of 1,173,072 tourists. For the first time, more than a million tourists visited Nepal in 2018. Given the growing popularity of Nepal in Bangladesh with its historical ties, NOVOAIR DTM-2019 is an ideal platform for fresh promotions and visibility of Nepal as an adventurous, safe and exciting destination providing latest information and updates to the outbound tour operators, media people of Bangladesh.'
'This is the first time we are participating in this fair. The reason is to introduce our bank to travellers so that they can avail the facilities we provide contributing to the prosperity of Bangladesh's tourism,' Azam Khan, Group Chief Communications Officer, Mutual Trust Bank Ltd. said.
Shakil Meraj, General Manager - Public Relations, Biman Bangladesh Airlines, informed, 'At NOVOAIR DTM-2019, Biman will offer up to 25 per cent discount on economy class return tickets for selected outbound routes. Visitors will also be able to avail 7 per cent discount on other international flights. We will be giving away complimentary air tickets for round trips from Dhaka to Kathmandu, Bangkok and Kuala Lumpur each day respectively as raffle prizes.'
'Since the beginning of NOVOAIR's journey, it has been participating in DTM, organised by The Bangladesh Monitor. This time, NOVOAIR is supporting the fair as the Title Sponsor. The airline operates 24 turnaround flights every day. NOVOAIR has won three stars rating for safety compliance, making it the only private airline to achieve this honour,' said Mes-bah
Islam, Head of Marketing and Sales, NOVOAIR.
Akhtar Uzzaman Khan Kabir, Chairman, Bangladesh Parjatan Corporation, said, 'We see only 5-6 tourism fairs taking place in Bangladesh which can be considered very focused. Dhaka Travel Mart organised by The Bangladesh Monitor is one of them. I think it is high time everyone involved in this sector started promoting Bangladesh abroad as an attractive tourist destination. For this purpose, under the guidance of the Ministry, BPC in collaboration with BTB is working to promote selected tourist destinations of Bangladesh. Also, we are creating more facilities in less explored yet potential tourist spots besides doing necessary publicity to make them popular.'
Dr. Bhubon Chandra Biswas, CEO, Bangladesh Tourism Board, concluded, 'A nation's tourism sector is divided into three parts – inbound, outbound and domestic. The purpose of these travel fairs is to generate growth of all three.'
National Tourism Organisations of Bangladesh, Nepal, Thailand, Indonesia and Malaysia are participating in this year's travel mart. 41 organisations of 7 countries including host Bangladesh will display their products and services in 5 pavilions and 70 stalls during the fair. Participating organisations will offer attractive discounts for visitors on their products and services including domestic and international air tickets, holiday packages for home and abroad.
One can visit NOVOAIR Dhaka Travel Mart-2019 on payment of BDT30 entry fee from 10 am to 8 pm every day, from March 21-23. A grand raffle draw on entry coupons will be organised on March 23, the final day, at 7:30 pm. Raffle prizes will include air tickets to various local and foreign destinations, holiday packages for home and abroad, accommodation in luxury hotels, lunch and dinner coupons among others. Brief cultural performances will be organised in the evening every day at the fair venue.
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