Speakers at a webinar have opined that research, innovation and use of technology are needed to make the country’s tourism sector more attractive and developed.
Their view came during the event, titled “Hospitality and Tourism Industry in Bangladesh: The Road to Recovery Amid Covid-19,” organized by JCI Dhaka Achievers on Saturday, according to a press release.
Dhaka University marketing department teacher Prof Muhammad Ismail Hossain; Manager of The Westin Dhaka Md Al-Amin, and Ridwan Hafiz, the founder and CEO of Go Zayaan, were among the attendees of the webinar, which was hosted by JCI Dhaka Achievers member AKM Asadur Rahman.
Prof Hossain said the amount of research done in the field was not enough. “There is a lack of relevant information in this sector. The institutions need to unite for this.”
Speakers attending the webinar <strong>Courtesy</strong>
Ridwan Hafiz said that those working in the tourism sector are using technology to popularize the sector. “It is necessary to focus on technology as well as innovation.”
Tourism has been one of the sectors of the country that have been hit hardest by the Covid-19 pandemic.
With an estimated loss of Tk11,400 crore recorded until July 2021, people in this industry are not hopeful about starting the recovery process this year, according to media reports.
Sources say at least four million people are employed by the country’s tour operators, hotels, resorts, airlines and catering services and have been struggling to survive.
However, last month, Bangladesh Bank had declared a new stimulus package worth Tk1,000 crore for hotels, motels and theme parks suffering from the ongoing business slowdown amid the pandemic.
Owners of hotels and theme parks with trade licences will be able to get loans under the scheme in the form of working capital at a 4% interest rate to pay the provide salaries of employees, media reports said.
