1 S.M. SIRAJ UDDIN CHOWDHURY, MBA, TOURISM & HOSPITALITY MANAGEMENT, UNIVERSITY OF DHAKA rubelly@gmail.

com

Review of Tourism policy in Bangladesh, Scope for future improvements

Introduction Reviewing the tourism policy is important for three reasons. Firstly, review is important for understanding the policy decisions and its impacts. Secondly, understanding policys interests, values, and planning processes. Finally, provide solutions to any problem. There are number of difficulties for reviewing the tourism policy. A first reason is that tourism policy is beliefs and values, internally or externally, about the good and bad matters. There always differences in policies in dealing with particular problems. Policy is always a complex system.

Definition Before we go further, we need a definition of policy. Policy is derived from the word polis (Greek), from which the terms police and politics are also derived. Shortly, policy is a name to describe the general steps and outcomes of government. Thus, tourism policy can be defined as a set of rules, regulations, guidelines, directive, and development/promotion objectives and strategies that provide a framework of collective and individual decision making. Now we need to know the definition of improvement. Its early spelling was emprowement, meaning "profit, profitable use or management." So, improvement means the act of improving or the state of being improved.

Tourism Policy, Importance of Developing Tourism Industry Our national tourism is in a beginning point. Though we have many resources and chances but we are still failure to achieve our goals. There are some reasons by what tourism industry development is important. Tourism is the larger growing industry in this world. Tourism can be the prime source of foreign currency. We have the longest sea-beach of the world. We have the largest mangrove forest Sundarban.
Review of Tourism policy in Bangladesh, Scope for future improvements

2 S.M. SIRAJ UDDIN CHOWDHURY, MBA, TOURISM & HOSPITALITY MANAGEMENT, UNIVERSITY OF DHAKA rubelly@gmail.com

There are many large and small rivers what can be the tourist generating source. Tourism needs man-power. We have people.
In a word, for being the part of the World Tourism Income, Bangladesh needs a perfect Tourism Policy.

Tourism Policy, Aims and Goals Aims and Goals of Tourism Policy support government and any other people or organization related to tourism in coordination, planning, legislation, entrepreneurial support, stimulation, promotion, social tourism, and public interest protection. Policy aims and goals are given below. Economic Development: It generates foreign revenue, assists balance of payments, provides employment countrywide, and increases local income. Increase Employment: Tourism is a large industry for providing the employment opportunity to local people. It strengths the number and quality of local jobs by providing the rules and regulations for the employees so that they should not be overlooked. Cultural Richness and Community Wellbeing: Tourism policy creates and keeps the respect to historic heritage, authentic culture, traditions and distinctiveness of the host communities. Resource Efficiency: Tourism policy ensures the optimum return from the use of scarce resources. Environmental Purity and Sustainability: Tourism policy by its regulations minimizes the environmental pollution by reducing air pollution, water pollution, sound pollution and the wastage of visitors and tourism enterprises. Thus tourism policy protects the environment and social or cultural systems.

Review of Tourism policy in Bangladesh, Scope for future improvements

3 S.M. SIRAJ UDDIN CHOWDHURY, MBA, TOURISM & HOSPITALITY MANAGEMENT, UNIVERSITY OF DHAKA rubelly@gmail.com

Tourism Policy, Development of Main Tourism Attractions Development of tourism attractions is very important for a county to achieve the goals in this sector. When a country develops its tourism attractions then it can compete in the run of this business. Development of sea-beach and natural tourism. Development of eco-tourism. Eco-tourism is considered the fastest-growing market in the tourism industry, according to the World Tourism Organization, with an annual growth rate of 5% worldwide, representing 6% of the world's gross domestic product and 11.4% of all consumer spending - not a market to be taken lightly. Development of religious tourism. Religious tourism is the soft corner of peoples mind. Development of cultural tourism. People who travel for the reason of culture, for them this will be a good source of income.

Tourism Policy, Implementation of National Tourism Policy

Tourism, as a larger industry, needs long term planning, sufficient investment and financial and technical help. o Laws, rules and regulations must be easy for foreign visitors. o National tourism council must be needed for this sector and it should be operated by the prime-minister. o Advisory committee also needed. o Set up a tourism related minister panel. o There is also a need for well-decorated infrastructures and superstructures. o Need a good concern on Eco-tourism.

Tourism Policy, Steps taken for Implementing National Tourism Policy Set laws, rules and regulations. Mark tourism areas and tourism attractions. Capital can invest in this sector from local and foreign income.
Review of Tourism policy in Bangladesh, Scope for future improvements

4 S.M. SIRAJ UDDIN CHOWDHURY, MBA, TOURISM & HOSPITALITY MANAGEMENT, UNIVERSITY OF DHAKA rubelly@gmail.com

Development of eco-tourism. Development of souvenir. Necessary planning and implementation.

Tourism Policy, Important Steps for Tourism Development Mark attractions areas for foreign visitors. Govt. and Private airlines & Tourism organizations can work jointly. Find out the tourist generating countries and take necessary steps for making them our visitors. Set up a logo and marketing for making Bangladesh as a Destination Brand. Arrange package tours with foreign visitors. Make strong Destination Management Service by publishing leaflet, poster, brochure, pamphlet, map and providing them to all tourist service providers. Make professional people for this sector. Security & Safety must be needed for all kinds of visitors.

Tourism Policy, Constraints of Tourism in Bangladesh There are some major constraints of Tourism in Bangladesh given below Lack of social and political commitment. Non-availability of adequate infrastructure, including domestic and international transportation, accessibility to tourist destinations, accommodation and inadequate trained manpower. Non-existence of any marketing policy both in the private and government sectors. Social insecurity: local people do not have visitor experience, so tourists sometimes feel uneasy in some places.

Review of Tourism policy in Bangladesh, Scope for future improvements

5 S.M. SIRAJ UDDIN CHOWDHURY, MBA, TOURISM & HOSPITALITY MANAGEMENT, UNIVERSITY OF DHAKA rubelly@gmail.com

Tourism Policy, Recommendations for Future Improvement

The development of tourist facilities should be taken up in a planned manner at government and non-government levels. Tourism sector can be run under PPP system. Yearly or half-yearly review of national policy can be a winning term in this sector. By the review, the organization committee will be able to edit or delete any item in the policy & from the policy. Heritage is an important item of our tourism sector. So, Heritage Tourism development will be a good attraction for tourist. Thats why, in tourism policy there need an importance on Heritage Tourism. There is a great need to highlight the tourism in education sector. So, in the policy there need a rule for including Tourism in the syllabus of primary & secondary level of education. There are many public & private universities running the Tourism Department and providing the facilities to students for doing their Bachelors, Masters, & MBA program. University of Dhaka is the leader in this run. If there were a student committee formed for supporting the Tourism sector of Bangladesh, then it would be very helpful. So, a Tourism Student Committee (TSC) can be formed. Tourism is a good export business. Suppose when tourists come into Bangladesh, they are purchasing travel experiences. Then they leave, they take these experiences back with them. Thus, the Bangladesh has exported travel experience. So, the government should give this sector an Export House Status, like the garments industry & it must be written in the policy. A national tourism award can be given to the most honorable tourist (local/foreign) and it can also be included on the policy. Government can observe and keep the pride of large public university campuses and make them tourist attraction areas. University campuses like DU, RU, JU and CU campuses can be a restricted area for other vehicles and keep it only for the students and then make these as a tourist attraction.
Conclusion Since tourism is a multi-dimensional activity, and basically a service industry, it is necessary that all the stakeholders become active partners in the endeavor to attain sustainable growth in tourism if Bangladesh is to become a world player in the tourist industry.

Review of Tourism policy in Bangladesh, Scope for future improvements

6 S.M. SIRAJ UDDIN CHOWDHURY, MBA, TOURISM & HOSPITALITY MANAGEMENT, UNIVERSITY OF DHAKA rubelly@gmail.com

Review of Tourism policy in Bangladesh, Scope for future improvements