Bangladesh on Sunday celebrated World Tourism Day with a series of programmes, expressing optimism that the tourism industry will make a significant contribution to achieving the national goal of building a USD 1 trillion economy by 2034.
In a message, President Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir called upon all stakeholders in the public and private sectors to work together to make effective use of technology and artificial intelligence to modernise the tourism industry and establish Bangladesh as one of the world's most attractive tourist destinations.
“Let our collective commitment be to advance the digital and sustainable transformation of our tourism industry while preserving ecological balance and cultural heritage,” he said.
Marking the day, Prime Minister Tarique Rahman said tourism is not merely an opportunity or a means for recreation; it is an important means of generating employment, earning foreign exchange, developing the local economy, and showcasing our history, heritage, culture and natural beauty to the world.
Therefore, he said in a message, developing Bangladesh's tourism industry into a modern, technology-driven, environmentally friendly and world-class industry is one of the key priorities of our development planning.
Through the collective efforts of the government, the private sector, local communities and the younger generation, the current government aspires to transform Bangladesh into a safe, sustainable, technology-driven and world-class tourism destination.
According to the latest World Tourism Barometer from UN Tourism, an estimated 690 million tourists travelled internationally between January and June 2026, some 3 million more than in the same period last year.
While global arrivals increased by 2% in Q1 2026, they then dropped by 1% in Q2, following a 3% decline in April. That drop was largely due to the calendar effect of the Easter holiday period starting in March and the impacts of the Middle East conflict.
Globally, arrivals then dropped 3% in June. That was driven by a 6% decline in Western Europe, partly due to a heatwave in some destinations. South-East Asia recorded 5% fewer arrivals in June as a result of weaker demand from Asian markets, geopolitical tensions, air travel disruptions through the Middle East, and increased travel costs. Some destinations in Oceania (-6% in June) were also impacted by Typhoon Sinlaku in Q2.
As part of the celebration, a colourful rally was brought out from Parjatan Bhaban at Agargaon in the city, bringing together tourism stakeholders and representatives of organisations associated with the sector to highlight Bangladesh’s diverse attractions and the economic potential of tourism.
The rally was followed by a bicycle procession, adding colour and visibility to the celebration as Bangladesh joined the global observance of World Tourism Day.
Bangladesh Parjatan Corporation (BPC) also arranged a guided city tour for underprivileged children, offering them an opportunity to explore tourist attractions in the capital and experience tourism firsthand.
The programmes marked the beginning of a week-long celebration that will continue until October 3, combining public engagement with policy discussions, stakeholder consultations, international outreach, technology and cultural showcases.
Chairman of the Parliamentary Standing Committee on the Ministry of Civil Aviation and Tourism Abul Kalam Azad Siddiqui said the government is giving importance to tourism as a potential major economic sector as Bangladesh seeks to diversify its sources of growth beyond its traditional economic strengths.
“The government’s approach envisages tourism becoming an important economic engine after the ready-made garment (RMG) and remittance sectors through coordinated development of infrastructure, destinations, investment, technology, skills and international promotion,” he said.
Civil Aviation and Tourism Secretary Fahmida Akhter said the present government has adopted a holistic approach, including infrastructure development and digital automation, to develop the tourism industry.
This year’s celebration is being held under the theme “Digital Agenda and Artificial Intelligence to Redesign Tourism,” with the programmes placing particular emphasis on the potential of digital transformation and artificial intelligence to reshape tourism services and visitor experiences.
The government plans to make technology an integral part of the future tourism industry.
Fahmida said reliable data would be equally important for future policy and investment decisions.
Bangladesh Tourism Board (BTB) Chief Executive Officer Barrister Mutasim Billah Faruqui said the board is working to finalise the plan by December this year.
“The integrated plan is expected to provide a framework for planned, environment-friendly and sustainable development of destinations ranging from beaches, forests, hills and wetlands to archaeological sites, villages, cuisine and cultural heritage,” he said.
BPC Chairman Md Shamimuzzaman said the government has taken initiatives to facilitate private-sector participation in developing the country’s tourism and leisure industry.
BPC has already prioritised 60 development projects involving an estimated Tk 19,000 crore and submitted them to the Ministry of Civil Aviation and Tourism.
BPC estimated that implementation of the projects could eventually help increase tourism’s contribution to the national economy to 8-10 percent and potentially double employment from the current estimate of around 2.4 million.
BTB will hold a meeting with tourism stakeholders on September 28 to discuss the industry’s development and identify ways to strengthen cooperation among different players.
Diplomats from countries considered important source markets for tourists will join a separate meeting on September 30, where discussions will focus on cooperation and ways to encourage more foreign visitors to Bangladesh.
The week-long celebration will culminate on October 3 at the Bangladesh-China Friendship Conference Centre.