-By Raquib Siddiqi
In the first eight months of the year 2013, international tourist arrivals grew by 5 per cent to reach a record 747 million worldwide, some 38 million more than in the same period of 2012. UK based Dr. Peter Tarlow, the President of Tourism & More forecast that some creative innovations in 2013 should give tourism professionals hope that 2014 may be the best year ever for tourism.
One billion tourists travelled internationally in 2012 according to the World Tourism Organization (UNWTO), the United Nations specialized agency for sustainable tourism. This figure is equivalent to one in every seven people on the planet travelling the world in 2012, up from just 25 million in 1950, 166 million in 1970 and 435 in 1990.
The figure establishes tourism as one of the world’s largest and fastest growing economic sectors, accounting for: (1) Nine per cent of global GDP (direct, indirect and induced). (2) One in every 12 jobs worldwide (direct, indirect and induced). (3) US $ 1.2 trillion in exports a year. (4) Six per cent of world trade and (5) Eight per cent of the exports of least developed countries.For developing countries, tourism brings much needed foreign exchange and investment. Tourism has also proven an extremely resilient sector, despite uncertain economic conditions, and is key to support the global economy in the current challenging times.
Despite its stunning array of natural, cultural and anthropological attractions, the wave of global tourism boom is yet to touch the shore of Bangladesh. Bangladesh’s share in the world tourism market is almost nil. The country is generally known as a disaster prone poor improvised one –not as tourist destination. Neglect by all the successive governments of the country and failure of national tourism organisation are to blame for this deplorable situation.
The tropical climate has made Bangladesh luxuriant in vegetation. The villages are usually buried in groves of Mango, Banana, Jackfruit, Coconut, Palm, Bamboo, and other useful trees. Unknown to many in the tourist generating countries, Bangladesh has mountains, large coastline, mangroves, rain forests, marshlands, islands and Sal forests. This diversity makes Bangladesh fairly rich in flora and fauna.
Of the 200 species of mammals, the pride of place goes to the Royal Bengal Tiger found in the Sundarbans. There are about 150 species of reptiles. Of the 525 recorded species of birds, 350 are resident and the rest are migratory, that appear only in winter. The number of species of marine and fresh water fish total around 200.
In addition to its natural attractions, Bangladesh has a multifaceted folk heritage, enriched by its, Buddhist, Hindu, and Muslim roots. Weaving, pottery and terracotta sculpture are some of the earliest forms of artistic expression.
Bangladesh has plenty of splendid tourism resources to be an attractive tourist destination. Tourism specialists have identified River tourism; Sundarbans –the UNESCO heritage site; Rare wild life; Bird life; Archeological sites, monuments and temples; Tribal tourism in Chittagong Hill Tracts and Tea gardens in Sylhet. In addition, relative low costs of internal air and road travel; high quality handicrafts; warm climate during European winter months are also considered as tourism assets of Bangladesh.
The co-existence of man and nature can best be studied in Bangladesh, which provides a great emotional and educational experience to the visitor. Observing nature in its diverse forms is considered by many, as interesting and thrilling as sighting a mega-mammal.
Ecotourism is a brash pragmatic new concept that mixes modern conservation theories with good old fashioned money making. It is the point at which capitalism and conservation join together to fight for the same cause; preservation of attractions and wildlife at a profit. As such it is being widely hailed as the best, investment for environment and business.
Successful conservation of natural areas can no longer be defined by simply making an area off limits to human populations. New strategies must address the critical issues of sustainable development and economic growth while achieving conservation objectives. Eco-tourism represents one such strategy.
Eco-tourism adds value to the environment. Eco-tourism offers the opportunity for conservation, business and government to work together in a way that could be a model for ‘all enterprises seeking to develop natural resources.
We are behind time and we must strongly believe in the tourism potentials of our country and go for positive action without wasting any more time. I think, the main opportunity for Bangladesh in international tourism lies in its natural and cultural heritage or in other words— Eco and Geo tourism attractions. The Unique Selling Point (USP) of the country has fairly good choice that a variety of geographical features provide. Most other countries offer one or the other choice in adventure tourism, Bangladesh on the other hand, provides an unparalleled natural habitat for wild life.
The term geo-tourism may come as a surprise. So let me explain. Geo-tourism is the newest trend in global tourism market. Yearning for authentic travel has lead to this new trend. Visiting rural Bangladesh. Travelling to the Sundarbans to watch otter fishing. Enjoying Monipuri dance in Sylhet. Tourists may make these trips at different times, but they have something in common: They could all be considered “geo-tourism,” the relatively new term for travel that focuses on a destination’s unique culture and history.
Geo tourism trend aims to preserve local charm and focuses on a destination’s authentic culture and history, aiming to have visitors help enrich those qualities—rather than turn the place into a typical tourist trap.
The term is so new that few tourists use it. But travel professionals describe it as a step beyond the better-known environmentally friendly eco-tourism. While geo-tourism encourages treading lightly on nature, it’s also about authenticity and making a place better by visiting and spending money.
People do tend to like things that they’re not going to experience somewhere else. They’re looking for things that are not homogenized, said an American tourism expert and added people are seeking a more experiential vacation.
Now more than ever, it’s easy to move quickly around the globe. While that can be a good thing, it also means places are “under various forms of assault,” said Jonathan B. Tourtellot, who became the National Geographic Society’s first director of sustainable destinations in 2001. Tourtellot coined the term “geo tourism,” and it first appeared in print in a 2002. Tourtellot wants to bring the focus of tourism back to the character of a place.
Geo tourism adds to sustainability principles by building on geographical character to create a type of tourism that emphasises the distinctiveness of its locale, and that benefits visitor and resident alike.
In geo-tourism, all the elements of geographical character together create a tourist experience that is richer than the sum of its parts, appealing to visitors with diverse interests. It involves the community as the local businesses and civic groups work together to promote and provide a distinctive, authentic visitor experience. Residents also discover their own heritage and also how the ordinary and familiar may be of interest to outsiders.
It benefits residents economically as the travel businesses do their best to use the local workforce, services, and products and supplies. When the community understands the beneficial role of geo tourism, it becomes an incentive for wise destination stewardship.
On the other hand, enthusiastic visitors take back new knowledge home, telling stories that send friends and relatives off to experience the same thing—a continuing business for the destination.
Both eco and geo fall in the category of sustainable tourism. The core objective of sustainable tourism is –first, do no harm. It does not abuse its product—the destination. It seeks to avoid the “loved to death” syndrome. Businesses and other stakeholders anticipate development pressures and apply limits and management techniques that sustain natural habitats, heritage sites, scenic appeal, and local culture.
In the present day world, environmentally aware travellers favor businesses that minimise pollution, waste, energy consumption, water usage, landscaping chemicals, and excessive nighttime lighting. They also respect local culture and tradition and try to learn about and observe local etiquette, including using at least a few courtesy words in the local language. On the other hand, residents learn how to deal with foreign expectations that may differ from their own.
The geo tourism approach is all-inclusive, focusing not only on the environment, but also on the diversity of the cultural, historic, and scenic assets of particular region. It encourages citizens and visitors to get involved rather than remain tourism spectators, and helps build a sense of national identity and pride, stressing what is authentic and unique to the region.
Geo tourism encourages businesses to sustain natural habitats, heritage sites, aesthetic appeal, and local culture. Prevent degradation by keeping volumes of tourists within maximum acceptable limits. Seek business models that can operate profitably within those limits.
It also encourages businesses to minimise water pollution, solid waste, energy consumption, water usage, landscaping chemicals, and overly bright nighttime lighting. Advertise these measures in a way that attracts the large, environmentally sympathetic tourist market.
Now a days, people feel a growing need to get away from the pressures of their daily existence — to escape from work deadlines, phones, and e-mail-and experience life on a simpler plane. They are yearning for a journey to an exotic spot where modern human society has not displaced the indigenous lifestyle.
Bangladesh contains greater bio-diversity than that of many countries taken together. In addition, old-fashioned life style of the country can also be converted into highly attractive eco and geo-tourism products on the following lines:
Things in the field of culture and traditions to be projected are: (1) Food and drink. (2) Local agricultural products and methods. (3) Performing arts like music, dance, theater, including street performances. (4) Traditional handicraft. (5) Festivals, including distinctive ways of celebrating national holidays should be included.
Things in the field of nature and environment to be projected are : (1) Distinctive wildlife habitat, on land or in the water. (2) Notable trees and flowers and (3) Local nature cuisine.
Things in the field of heritage to be projected are: (1) Historic sites that provide some type of interpretation or experience and (2) Archaeological sites with interpretation.
In the aesthetics field, things to be projected are spots having scenic beauty and most pleasing attraction.
The eco and geo-tourists are less demanding, more cooperative and willing to adapt and accommodate themselves to reasonable facilities. They welcome management guidelines and abide by the rules and regulations of the destinations, that help to reduce negative impacts of visitors on ecology and the societies they visit.
The goal of Eco and Geo tourism development in Bangladesh should be to capture a portion of the enormous global tourism market by attracting visitors to natural areas and using the revenues, to fund local conservation and fuel economic development.
The urgent need now is to update the master plan for development of tourism. The master plan that the country now has, was formulated decades ago. So, massive revision is needed to suite the need of the time as well as making the plan workable.
The revised Master Plan should suggest measures—both long and short term– to develop Geo and Eco tourism. The need is to bring country’s wealth of geo and eco-tourism attractions into well defined products and market those in tourism generating countries.
Experts are of the opinion that development of eco and geo tourism in Bangladesh should broadly be divided into the following attractions:
(1) Cox’s Bazar and surrounding for beach activities.
(2) The Sundarbans for safari and adventure tours.
(3) Rangamati and Lake Kaptai as a hill station resort with water activities like, house boats, water skiing, tribal life, craft centre and night club entertainment.
(4) Bandarban and Teknap areas as resort, hiking and tribal life.
(5) Creation of an archaeological vacation village with resort facilities near Jaipurhat with a tour programme for Paharpur and Mahastan and using railway connection to Rajshahi for viewing sericulture technology.
(6) Creation of a tea planter’s vacation village in the Sylhet-Srimangal region with bird watching expeditions and tours of the Bangladesh Tea Research Institute.
(7) Creation of a tourist village or theme park within easy reach of Dhaka to extend the range of activities for stop over, short stay visitors and local residents with components including weaving, embroidery, food preparation, and video presentation portraying the cultural life and history of the country supported by live music, a variety of restaurants and stores.
(8) Making Dhaka Zoo and Botanical Gardens more interesting and attractive by better maintenance and labeling.
I believe, all will agree that there is great scope to combine all aspects of tourism to make eco and geo tourism products of Bangladesh unique and attractive. The urgent need now is government action to develop country’s tourism under an integrated development plan.
(Former Acting Editor of now-defunct The Bangladesh Times, Raquib Siddiqui is a veteran journalist with specialisation in aviation and tourism)
