300,000 jobs in tourism sector by 2018: Menon
Civil Aviation and Tourism Minister Rashed Khan Menon said on Friday about 0.3 million people will get employment in the tourism sector within 2018, reports BSS.
“Each tourist creates job opportunity for 11 people . . . 0.3 million people will get jobs in tourism sector by 2018,” he said while speaking at a ‘Meet the Press’ programme at Dhaka Reporters Unity (DRU) in the capital.
The minister said vigorous campaign is on both at home and abroad to attract tourists from different countries, including China, Thailand, Bhutan, India, Myanmar and Malaysia, to Bangladesh.
Referring to different pragmatic steps of the present government to make the tourism sector as a profitable and attractive one, Menon said, “After the readymade garments (RMG), the tourism sector may be a profitable sector for the country.”
He said the tourism industry in Bangladesh has already drawn attention of foreign travellers and Memorandum of Understandings (MoUs) have already been signed with some countries including Malaysia, Nepal and Thailand.
“Lithuania, Latvia, Ukraine and some other countries are also keen on the tourism sector of Bangladesh,” he added.
Replying to a query, the minister said Bangladesh Barman Airlines Limited is set to turn into a profitable entity after six-year of frequent losses.
“The national flag carrier will see profit this year,” he hoped.
Menon said Cox’s Bazar airport will be upgraded to an International airport while a feasibility study on ‘Proposed Bangabandhu International Airport, the country’s proposed largest one, is under progress at the southern part of Padma Multipurpose Bridge.
DRU President Jamal Uddin and General Secretary Raju Ahmed were present on the occasion.
