A three-day Asian Tourism Fair-2011, first of its kind in the country, begins Thursday in the capital with a view to promoting tourism in the region.
The fair will focus on the prospect of tourism industry in the region to attract tourists from across the world to eye- soothing tourist attractions in the region, sources told BSS Wednesday.
The Parjatan Bichitra and Bangladesh Tourism Board (BTB) are going to jointly organise the fair at Bangabandhu International Conference Center (BICC) here with the support of Ministry of Civil Aviation and Tourism and Bangladesh Parjatan Corporation (BPC).
Civil Aviation and Tourism Minister G M Quader is expected to inaugurate the fair as the chief guest at 11.30 am. “The fair will help develop tourism linkage among all Asian countries which have immense prospect of promotion of tourism due to their natural beauties, cultural diversity, the colors of livelihood and contrasts of tribal life,” said Mohiuddin Helal, Chief Coordinator of ATF-Dhaka 2011.
Fair organiser sources said a total of 190 stalls, mostly from tour operators, airlines and leading hotels of Dhaka, Chittagong and Cox’s Bazar would be set up in the venue during the fair to showcase their services and other facilities to be offered for the tourists.
Of the total, more than 35 stalls would be set up by 12 countries from the Asian region.
Sources said apart from the host country Bangladesh, tour operators, airlines, hotels and others service providers from public and private sectors from India, Sri Lanka, Bhutan, Nepal, Vietnam, China, Japan, Iran, Malaysia, Indonesia, Qatar, among others, will participate in the fair.
The fair organisers expect 50,000 visitors including foreign buyers, trade visitors, media professionals, corporate personalities, educators, researchers from Bangladesh and abroad.
Apart from showcasing services, three seminars on prospect and obstacles of tourism sector in the region and cultural functions would be organised during the three-day fair which will remain open for public from 10 am to 8 pm every day.
Cultural troupes from Sri Lanka, Indonesia and Philippines will perform every day from 6 pm at the fair venue.