Photo: Collected
A four-day tourism fair has opened on the Rabindra Bhaban premises of Rajshahi University (RU). It is organised by the university’s Department of Tourism and Hospitality Management.
Vice-Chancellor Professor Faridul Islam inaugurated the fair on Wednesday.
The vice-chancellor said domestic tourism in the country is growing day by day, and tourism has now turned into a major industry. In his view, the sector now needs more investment, as well as educated and skilled manpower in tourism and hospitality studies. He also noted that RU’s Department of Tourism and Hospitality Management is playing an important role in this regard.
A cake was cut after the inauguration. A colourful procession then went round the campus, with music played by a smartly turned-out band of the Bangladesh Tourist Police. The four-day fair has 46 stalls on various tourism-related subjects. Cultural programmes are also being held every day from 6pm.
The event was presided over by Professor Md Zahid Hossain, chairman of the Department of Tourism and Hospitality Management. Special guests were Pro-Vice-Chancellor (Administration) Professor Md Abdul Alim, Treasurer Professor Md Matiar Rahman and Chandan Chandra Sarker, SP of the Tourist Police Rajshahi region.
Bangladesh Tourism Board Chief Executive Officer Barrister Mutasim Billah Faruqui was present at the event as chief patron.
At a glance
In the Bangladesh Bureau of Statistics (BBS) Tourism Satellite Account 2020, based on 2018-19 fiscal year data, the tourism sector’s contribution to GDP was calculated at 3.02 per cent, or Tk 76,690.7 crore; by the same account, spending by domestic tourists was Tk 74,959.2 crore — The Daily Star reported this on 27 November 2021.
Sources
Background sources: The Daily Star, 27 November 2021
