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Bangladesh Parjatan Corporation (BPC) earned a foreign exchange of over Tk 39.67 billion in 2004 signifying a 19.86 per cent growth over its earnings in 2003 that was Tk 33.10 million.
The earning of foreign currency in 1995 was Tk 9.55 billion. Foreign earning from tourism sector have increased by more than 300 per cent over a period of 1995 to 2004 and the contribution of the industry in GDP is about four per cent at present.
Official sources said, tourism in Bangladesh has once again surpassed all expectations despite consecutive years of unfavourable and adverse elements, subversive to the industry worldwide.
The number of tourist arrival in the first half of 2004 was quite promising, but heavy flood during the latter half of the year projected a bleak scenario.
In 1994, the number of tourists visiting Bangladesh reached about 2,71,270 that signifies a 10.94 per cent growth over the figure of 2003, which was 2,44,509, sources said.
According to BPC statistics, the number of tourists visiting the country has increased more than 78 per cent during the period of 1995 to 2004. According to BPC statistics most of the tourists come here from India, Europe, North America, Australia and Middle East.
Official sources said, in 2004 all of the major regions except South Asia recorded increases in arrivals. South Asia incurred a negative growth of 2.5 per cent while America, Europe, and East Asia & the Pacific achieved substantial growth of 20 per cent or more.
Sources also said, even though arrivals from South Asia dropped 2.5 per cent, it continues to contribute 36.84 per cent of the total arrivals to Bangladesh. All other regions contributed 63.16 per cent of the total arrival to Bangladesh where contributions of Europe, East Asia and the Pacific, America, Middle East and Africa are 28.50, 18.89, 13.79, 1.2 and 0.78 per cent respectively.
The highest flow of tourists was recorded in November with a seasonal index of 120 or 20.36 per cent above the monthly average.
Sources said the purposes of travel to Bangladesh in 2004 were - business and office travel 18.78 per cent, tourism 14.69 per cent and other travels 66.53 per cent.
However, the average annual occupancy rate of BPC-operated hotels and motels decreased further 32.16 per cent in 2004 from 37.61 per cent achieved in 2003.
BPC officials said five motels in Cox's Bazar, Sylhet and Bandarban and one restaurant-cum-bar in Dhaka have been leased out to the private sector for their management and operation.
Meanwhile, due to the tourism sector's rapid development government announced a national tourism policy in 1992 and the national tourism council was formed with the Prime Minister as its chairperson.
As a part of its marketing programme BPC has made some documentary and video films, which are being broadcast through Bangladesh missions and Biman offices abroad. Beside, BPC regularly participates in major tourism exhibitions, such as ITB in Berlin, WTM in London and TTF in Kolkata, BPC officials told.
Moreover, to facilitate tourism industry and ensure greater tourist facilities the government has so far established a number of hotels, motels, cottages, youth hostels, restaurants, duty free shops, land and water transports etc at different tourist spots of the country.
Recently two new Parjatan motels have been commissioned at Khagrachari and Bandarban.
Besides, BPC offers various packages, like - city-sightseeing tours, excursion trips and river cruises both for the countrymen and foreign guests.
However talking to FE, a BPC official said there is no new project this year and the organisation will continue to implement earlier projects.
It was learnt from BPC official that Foy's lake in Chittagong, owned by the railway authority has been taken by BPC on fifty years lease, which again is leased out to Concord Entertainment Ltd to invest Tk 10.00 billion for its development and maintenance.
BPC official also added that BPC-run National Hotel and Tourism Training Institute (NHTTI) in Dhaka has so far imparted training to more than 20,000 persons in different trades of tourism industry since its establishment in 1974. Most of these trainees have been employed at home and abroad.
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