Bangladesh Targets Tourism Expansion Through AI, Digital Transformation

(MENAFN- Bangladesh Monitor)

Dhaka: Bangladesh has outlined plans to expand its tourism industry through digital transformation, artificial intelligence, improved infrastructure and greater international connectivity.

The plans were discussed at a World Tourism Day 2026 program held October 3 at the Bangladesh-China Friendship Center in Dhaka. The event focused on“Digital Transformation and Artificial Intelligence: The Future of Tourism.”

Speaking as the chief guest M. Rashiduzzaman Millat said a national tourism committee, chaired by the prime minister, has been formed to consider stakeholder proposals. He added Cox's Bazar would be developed as a tourism hub, direct international flights are planned, and international operations are expected from the first week of November. River, water-based, cultural, heritage and event tourism will also receive greater attention.

MoCAT Minister M Rashiduzzaman Millat addressing the occasion

Bangladesh Tourism Board CEO Barrister Mutasim Billah Farooqi delivered the welcome address, saying, preparations for a national tourism master plan are underway, alongside work on tourism policy and identification of potential destinations. The government aims to raise tourism's contribution to GDP from around 3% to 7%.

Farooqi said 586,000 international visitors entered Bangladesh last year. Increasing arrivals and employment will require better facilities, infrastructure, international tourism fair participation, easier visa procedures and global promotion of Bangladesh, he said.

Tourist Police Additional IGP GM Azizur Rahman also spoke on the occasion. He said the force now operates in 32 districts and 130 tourist locations, where it has served more than 60 million domestic and 10,000 international visitors. He called for specialized tourism training.

While addressing the event, Bangladesh Parjatan Corporation Chairman Md. Shamimuzzaman further mentioned 60 projects worth Tk19,000 crore have been proposed, with efforts underway to attract private and foreign investment through PPP arrangements.

Tourism Secretary Fahmida Akhter urged public-private cooperation would be essential, while work continues on visa policy, travel agency regulations and a Tourism Satellite Account.

The event concluded with awards recognizing 16 tourism professionals and organizations, followed by a cultural program. Awardees included InterContinental Dhaka as the best five star hotel, Hotel Agrabad as the best four star hotel, Hansa–A Premium Residence as the best three star hotel, The Bengal Tours Limited as the best inbound tour operator, ShareTrip as the best domestic tour operator, BD Tickets as the best tourism technology initiative, Fantasy Kingdom Complex as the best amusement park, Charubala Homestay and Tours as the best homestay, Savor International as the best MICE initiative, MV Malangi as the best tour vessel, Bangladesh Eco Adventures as the best young tourism entrepreneur, Nurani Sharmin Afroz as the best women tourism entrepreneur, Sarowar Jahan as the best tour guide, Naym Abir as the best tourism journalist, and Salauddin Sumon as the best tourism content creator.

Spread the word More from TourismView All Latest NewsSee All Bangladesh targets tourism expansion through AI, digital transformationTourismabout 1 hour ago Malaysia Aviation Group to acquire Airbus' Sepang MRO unitMRO and Engineeringabout 3 hours ago KLM receives first Airbus A350Fleet and Aircraftabout 3 hours ago 737 MAX software flaw carries no safety risk: FAAFleet and Aircraftabout 5 hours ago Labor minister calls for demand-based training, PPP to build skilled workforceNRB Connectabout 5 hours ago US Embassy warns visa applicants not to lie about past immigration violationsVisa and Travel Updatesabout 5 hours ago Thai Airways CEO fired over baggage crisis in BangkokAirlines and Routesabout 5 hours ago Ministry officials receive first-ever civil aviation trainingInstitute/Trainingabout 5 hours ago EBL promotes Bangla QR across merchant networkBanking and Financeabout 5 hours ago Tourism Board names 16 recipients for Bangaldesh Tourism Awards 2026AwardsOct 2, 2026 Biman takes action over delayed Zamzam water deliveryAirlines and RoutesOct 1, 2026 US-Bangla Airlines, Mastercard partner for fare discounts, travel rewardsAirlines and RoutesOct 1, 2026 Ethiopian Airlines orders eight 777-8, two 777F freightersCargo and LogisticsOct 1, 2026 SriLankan Airlines runs A330 training program for Etihad examinersAirlines and RoutesOct 1, 2026 Malaysia Airlines, China Southern expand codeshare partnershipAirlines and RoutesOct 1, 2026 InterContinental Dhaka concludes IHG's Giving for Good Month with community initiativesHotelsOct 1, 2026 Modern trolleys handed over to Chattogram Airport for migrant workersNRB ConnectOct 1, 2026 Flyadeal seeks more Dhaka flights; Bangladesh proposes Dammam-Chattogram routeAirlines and RoutesOct 1, 2026 dnata appoints Siobhán Meaney as MD of Catering and Retail in IrelandAviationOct 1, 2026 Vibrant opens 22nd sales center in SylhetFashionOct 1, 2026 Cox's Bazar eco-resort project targets USD 500m foreign investmentResortsOct 1, 2026 Prime Bank partners with Dashboard, D Autos to offer customer benefitsBanking and FinanceOct 1, 2026 Gulf Air launches direct Bahrain-Kuala Lumpur serviceAirlines and RoutesOct 1, 2026 Turkish Airlines seeks three additional weekly flights to DhakaAirlines and RoutesOct 1, 2026 Bangladesh remains lowest-ranked in APAC tourism development indexTourismOct 1, 2026 Bangladesh's narrow window to win Japan's appetite for new destinationsTourismOct 1, 2026 Air India, Adani Airports launch online duty-free shoppingAirport LoungeOct 1, 2026 Etihad adds second daily Sydney flightAirlines and RoutesOct 1, 2026 Unruly passengers in sky: growing threat to aviation safetyAviationOct 1, 2026 Mousumi Mou signs deal as Ispahani Mirzapore Tea ambassadorCorporate PulseOct 1, 2026 Gentle Park celebrates 20 years with nationwide offerLife & StyleOct 1, 2026 MTB joins BB's export diversification refinancing schemeBanking and FinanceOct 1, 2026 Prime Bank, MHTC, Irving Aviation jointly ease medical travel to MalaysiaBanking and FinanceOct 1, 2026 KOI Thé Bangladesh secures halal certificationRestaurantsOct 1, 2026 German café chain Barock opens new outlet in Gulshan-2RestaurantsOct 1, 2026 Cox's Bazar airport begins trial operations at new international terminalAirports and InfrastructureOct 1, 2026 Dhaka's aviation paradox: Can single runway support airline boom?AviationOct 1, 2026 Bangladesh, Korea discuss greater investment in AI, shipbuildingTelecom and TechSep 30, 2026 Air Astra fleet doubles to six with third brand-new ATR 72-600Fleet and AircraftSep 30, 2026 BIHA delegation explores tourism opportunities in VietnamTourismSep 30, 2026 Report finds fresh details about Vietnam Airlines 787 takeoff overrunAirlines and RoutesSep 30, 2026 Radisson Blu Dhaka hosting culinary festival marking Tourism DayHotelsSep 30, 2026 Bangladesh seeks more flights to Türkiye, also from Chattogram, SylhetAviationSep 30, 2026 Nepal's civil aviation authority split bill nears cabinet approvalAviationSep 30, 2026 Airbus A350F freighter completes maiden flightCargo and LogisticsSep 30, 2026 Tokyo hits record 34 straight rainy daysVisa and Travel UpdatesSep 30, 2026 Diplomats call for targeted tourism promotion to put Bangladesh on global mapTourismSep 30, 2026 Crowne Plaza Dhaka Airport wins World Travel Award 2026AwardsSep 30, 2026 Global air cargo demand rises 4.4pc in August: IATACargo and LogisticsSep 30, 2026 Tourism, aviation, hospitality key areas for UK investment in BangladeshAviation Business Sep 30, 2026 Most PopularSee All The Way Dhaka dubbed Leading Boutique Hotel for second consecutive yearAwardsSep 29, 2026 Singapore offers technology support for border, immigration securityTravel TechSep 27, 2026 Thai Airways waives date change fee for flood-hit travelersAirlines and RoutesSep 27, 2026 US-Bangla ranks 4th among South Asia's top regional airlinesAirlines and RoutesSep 26, 2026 Qatar Airways quietly retires Airbus A330 fleet, sends pilots to RwandAirFleet and AircraftSep 27, 2026 Turkish Airlines seeks three additional weekly flights to DhakaAirlines and RoutesOct 1, 2026 Air Astra fleet doubles to six with third brand-new ATR 72-600Fleet and AircraftSep 30, 2026 Institute/TrainingSep 27, 2026 Thai Airways cancels flights as baggage crisis strands passengersAirlines and RoutesSep 29, 2026 World Tourism Day 2026: Peninsula Chittagong launches Chattogram's Digital ItineraryHotelsSep 28, 2026 Bangladesh seeks more flights to Türkiye, also from Chattogram, SylhetAviationSep 30, 2026 ATR appoints new CEO, CFOFleet and AircraftSep 26, 2026 Himalaya Airlines to add new route in China, resume anotherAirlines and RoutesSep 26, 2026 Airlines prepare for winter capacity cuts as fuel costs riseAviation Business Sep 26, 2026 Bangladesh to observe World Tourism Day with focus on AI, digital tourismTourismSep 26, 2026 Airbus reveals date for A350F freighter's maiden flightCargo and LogisticsSep 27, 2026 Bangladesh, UAE discuss expanding jobs for skilled workers, aviation cooperationNRB ConnectSep 28, 2026 Airbus A350F freighter completes maiden flightCargo and LogisticsSep 30, 2026 Boeing warns of 737 MAX software flaw in landing navigationFleet and AircraftSep 27, 2026 Global airport passenger growth slows sharply in 2026: ACI WorldAirports and InfrastructureSep 26, 2026 Biman to sign Airbus deal in October, latest Boeing jets to cost USD 2.7bAviationSep 29, 2026 Cox's Bazar airport to start domestic flights from new terminal on September 28Airports and InfrastructureSep 26, 2026 Bangladesh Tourism Board marks World Tourism Day with colorful rallyTourismSep 27, 2026 Tourism Board holds views-exchange meeting with industry stakeholdersTourismSep 28, 2026 Crowne Plaza Dhaka Gulshan holds charity run for childrenHotelsSep 26, 2026 DHL Express, Singapore Airlines renew Boeing 777 freighter partnershipCargo and LogisticsSep 26, 2026 Tourism Board names 16 recipients for Bangaldesh Tourism Awards 2026AwardsOct 2, 2026 Dhaka's aviation paradox: Can single runway support airline boom?AviationOct 1, 2026 First Emirates Boeing 777-9 rolls out of Everett factoryFleet and AircraftSep 29, 2026 EU Ambassador, Expat Minister discuss safe migration, labor law reformsNRB ConnectSep 29, 2026 No hidden agenda in Boeing deal: Humaiun KobirAviation Business Sep 28, 2026 BIHA delegation explores tourism opportunities in VietnamTourismSep 30, 2026 Diplomats call for targeted tourism promotion to put Bangladesh on global mapTourismSep 30, 2026 United receives first GTF Advantage-powered A321XLRFleet and AircraftSep 27, 2026 Emirates opens £10m luxury lounge at Manchester AirportAviationSep 27, 2026 IATA urges wider cargo checks to curb hidden dangerous goodsCargo and LogisticsSep 27, 2026 Bangladesh's narrow window to win Japan's appetite for new destinationsTourismOct 1, 2026 Crowne Plaza Dhaka Airport wins World Travel Award 2026AwardsSep 30, 2026 Boeing's Singapore Training Campus celebrates its 20th anniversaryInstitute/TrainingSep 28, 2026 Flyadeal seeks more Dhaka flights; Bangladesh proposes Dammam-Chattogram routeAirlines and RoutesOct 1, 2026 Prime Bank secures EUR 20m loan to expand MSME financingBanking and FinanceSep 26, 2026 SriLankan Airlines runs A330 training program for Etihad examinersAirlines and RoutesOct 1, 2026 DHL Aviation appoints two sales directors for AsiaCargo and LogisticsSep 29, 2026 Bangladesh seeks UK investment in tourism, help on air cargo restrictionsTourismSep 30, 2026 Bangladesh, Pakistan discuss strengthening connectivityTourismSep 28, 2026 Malaysia-Bangladesh Tourism, Arts and Cultural Network launched in DhakaTourismSep 28, 2026 World Tourism Day celebrated in Sajek Valley for first timeTourismSep 28, 2026 Vibrant opens 22nd sales center in SylhetFashionOct 1, 2026 EBL signs two participation agreements with BBBanking and FinanceSep 28, 2026 Tourism, aviation, hospitality key areas for UK investment in BangladeshAviation Business Sep 30, 2026

MENAFN03102026000163011034ID1111755378