Businessmen involved in tourism said the sector has not seen much development due to various difficulties although thousands of tourists visit the district every year.
They said that officials concerned with tourism industry pass busy time in the first five months of the year when thereâs a rush of tourists but sit idle rest of the year.
Rangamati Deputy Commissioner Md Mamunur Rashid said there are municipalities, Zila Parishad, district administration and parjatan corporation here. âIf all the agencies work together, itâll be possible to do many things, including attracting a vast number of tourists and keeping the district neat and clean,â he said.
Md Alamgir Kabir, the districtâs police chief, said that Rangamatiâs tourism sector has huge potentials as tourists consider the area safe. He admitted that the number of people visiting the district remains low seven months of the year.
âAlthough Rangamati turns more attractive during monsoon, tourists are not interested to visit the distinct fearing hill collapse,â he noted, stressing the need for stopping misinformation and carrying out campaigns to attract foreign tourists.
Md Ramjan Ali, vice-president of Rangamati Tourist Boat Ownersâ Association, said some development projects need to be taken to attract tourists here round the year.
Srijon Bikash Barua, manager of Rangamati Parjatan Corporation, said annual income from the tourism sector is around Tk 3 crore. âOn average, 500-1000 tourists visit the tourist spots daily,â he said.
There is no visible development here without building of a new parjatan complex. âThereâll be radical changes in the tourism industry if initiatives are taken centring on the vast areas of parjatan complex,â he said.