A total of 60,727 more foreign tourists visited Bangladesh in 2008 than that of the previous year as 3,49,837 tourists arrived in 2008 and 2,89,110 in 2007.
Incomes from the tourism sector stood at Taka 526.52 crore in 2007 and Taka 459.78 crore in 2008, which was Taka 66.84 crore less than the previous year, according to a Bangladesh Parjatan Corporation (BPC) figure.
The less incomes were fetched from the sector due to arrival of more tourists from neighbouring countries, mostly from India, by road and they also spent less in comparison with the European and US visitors.
But the better activities are being expected from the tourism sector this year as both the private and public enterprises are moving for organising the internal tourism further, said BPC Chairman Shafiq Alam Mehdi today.
The BPC chairman while addressing a press conference at Jatiya Press Club on organising a tourism fair in Dhaka, said the tourist operators have been coordinating efforts to boost the internal tourism for the three consecutive years successfully.
The foreign tourists would not come if they find developed tourism infrastructures and services, Shafiq said.
The BPC chairman said the new government at present is giving final touches to enact a tourism law and if it is enforced, the sector will further be flourished.
He said there was no vacant seat in private and public tourist resorts and hotels in Cox's Bazar even when the cyclone 'Bijli' was brewing on Friday and Saturday last.
President of Association of Travel Agents of Bangladesh Mohaimen Sadek said the tourism sector should be developed vigorously as the export of manpower has come down due to the global meltdown.
General Secretary of the Tourism Developers Association and Editor of monthly Parjatan Bichitra Mohiuddin Helal said they will organise the 3rd tourism fair from August 12 in Dhaka.
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