Govt promotes ethnic tourism for sector development

Dhaka : The government is working to advance the country's tourism sector through job creation and the promotion of ethnic tourism, said Civil Aviation and Tourism Minister Afroz Khanam at a ceremony held in Sylhet on June 19. The Minister said this while addressing the inauguration ceremony of the three-day Harmony Festival held at the Fulchhara Tea Garden grounds in Sreemangal, showcasing the rich cultural heritage, traditional foods, handicrafts, and lifestyles of ethnic communities. Speaking at the opening ceremony, the Minister said, "We are formulating plans to expand employment opportunities in tourism and develop ethnic tourism across the country." Responding to demands from ethnic communities, the Minister also pledged to work towards establishing an Indigenous Cultural Academy. She further said, the government has undertaken plans to expand Sylhet Osmani International Airport to attract more foreign tourists and strengthen Sylhet's position as a tourism destination. State Minister M Rashiduzzaman Millat was also present at the ceremony. He said, the government's election manifesto places special emphasis on balanced regional development and the promotion of community-based, ethnic, and water tourism. He noted that the Bangladesh Tourism Board organized the Harmony Festival to help preserve and revitalize the diverse and endangered cultural traditions of ethnic communities while creating sustainable economic opportunities. The event was also attended by Members of Parliament M Nasser Rahman and Md Mujibur Rahman Chowdhury, Civil Aviation and Tourism Secretary Fahmida Akhtar, and senior government officials. As part of its tourism product development and promotional efforts, the Bangladesh Tourism Board plans to organize the festival annually in Sreemangal.