Ecotourism in Bangladesh

According to The International Ecotourism Society (TIES), ecotourism can be defined as "responsible travel to natural areas that conserve the environment, sustains the well-being of the local people, and involves interpretation and education". 

Bangladesh is endowed with various tourist attractions, including beaches, forests, waterfalls, sanctuaries, rivers, lakes etc. One of the most popular sites for ecotourism in Bangladesh is the Sundarbans.The Sundarbans is the world's largest mangrove forest and is also famous for its wildlife,especially the Royal Bengal Tiger. It is also designated as a World Heritage Site by UNESCO. Other popular ecotourism spots include Cox's Bazar, Inani beach, Kuakata beach, St Martin's Island etc.The St Martin's Island is a haven for coral reefs and mangroves and can be considered the most suitable destination for advancing ecotourismin Bangladesh. The three Hilly Districts of Rangamati, Khagrachari and Bandarban are home to several tribes with discrete cultures and rituals. Sajek Valley, which is another hilly area, is currently one of the most popular tourist spots. The port city Chattogram is famous for its ports, beaches and hills. Its various waterfalls are the main attractions for travellers. Nafakhum, Shahasradhara, Shuvolong, Shuptadhara, Jhorjhori, Komoldoho, Boro Komoldoho,and Khoiyachora waterfalls are prominent tourist attractions. Other attractions include the Ratargul Swamp forest, Madhabkunda, Satchari National Park, Lawachara National Park of Sylhet,Nikli Haor of Kishoreganj, Nijhum Dwip of Noakhali etc. 

In Bangladesh, travellers prefer natural location since outdoor activities such as hiking, walking,wildlife viewing, boat riding, kayaking, and fishing can be carried out efficiently in natural environments. Eco-conscious travellers favour green-accommodation and so are offered with different eco-friendly options ranging from various budgets in Bangladesh. The accommodations provide eco-friendly water management, waste management, recycling facilities, and transport facilities.

According to the Maldives Ministry of Tourism, the country welcomed a record amount of 1,702,831 tourists in 2019, which is a14.7 percent in crease from 2018.  Europe has been the largest source of tourism for the Maldives for the past few years. In 2020, the contribution of travel and tourism to GDP for Nepal was 7.9 percent. The United Nations World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) estimated that India would account for 50 million departing tourists by 2020. The airline's routes have increased the maximum options for Indian travellers. Our neighbouring countries Nepal, Bhutan and India have developed their ecotourism sector by implementing appropriate management policy. This is yet to be done in Bangladesh.

The contribution of travel and tourism to GDP for Bangladesh was only 4.4 percent in 2020. The World Economic Forum Travel and Tourism Competitiveness Report stated that Bangladesh was at the bottom of the tourism sector among all Asian countries in 2019.Currently,Bangladesh has gone up to the 114th position from the 104th position in the list of tourist-friendly countries.

Tourists of Bangladesh are anxious about food, disease, language barriers, safety and security etc. Communication infrastructure has become one of the prime issues recently. If tourists are not comfortable in their journey, they will lose interest in travelling.This issue can damage our tourism industry, which would be a significant setback since it has become a major driver of economic growth.

The government, NGOs, private organisers and also social media should be involved in the tourism sector. They can develop ecotourism through long-term planning, developing ecotourism facilities, initiating training and setting guidelines, holding seminars and workshops, ensuring security, creating job opportunities, safeguarding the environment, advertising our history, values, rituals, participating in national and international tourism fairs, publishing advertisements in trade journals, raising awareness among local people and tourists, etc. Our government should also focus on communication infrastructure, conservation of natural resources (wildlife, tree species), promotion of the local people and tourists' well-being, and preservation of cultural values and rituals using tourism policy.

Ecotourism helps in environment and wildlife conservation, economic development and creates employment opportunities. It is increasing in popularity in Bangladesh because more people travel hereto acknowledge the country's topography, flora, and fauna. It may be necessary to control the number of tourists permitted in a particular area. To implement the ecotourism facilities, strict policy-making, proper planning, monitoring and evaluation of the applied strategies are essential.

Sabiha Akter Seema, Research intern, CGS.

Views in this article are author’s own and do not necessarily reflect CGS policy.