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DHAKA, Bangladesh, Jul 24 (IPS) – Blue tourism, broadly known as Coastal or Maritime tourism, is a definite concept from conventional tourism, which capitalizes on a rustic’s ocean, sea, or coastal area.
Coastal tourism is the most important market section on this planet, accounting for five% of GDP and contributing 6-7% of complete employment. Moreover, coastal and maritime tourism will make use of 1.5 million extra folks worldwide by 2030.
Although Blue Tourism is just not a brand new idea, however off late Bangladesh has been realizing its significance as it might assist incomes lots of overseas alternate contribute to its GDP and speed up the tempo of attaining SDGs by 2030.
Blue Tourism: A Potential Blue Economic system Avenue for Bangladesh
In response to Asian Growth Financial institution (ADB), coastal and maritime tourism has immense potential within the blue economic system and will change into one of many largest sources of tourism income in Bangladesh. Ocean contributed $6.2 billion in 2015 in complete worth addition to the Bangladesh’s economic system which suggests 3 % of GDP (Enterprise Customary 2020).
Potentials of Blue Tourism in Bangladesh
Maritime space of 207K sq. km, with 580 km of shoreline, 200 nautical mile unique financial zone, and 12 nautical mile territorial zones creates unprecedent alternatives for Bangladesh to speed up the expansion of blue economic system.
Icing on the highest are the 75 giant and small islands within the coastal and maritime zone of Bangladesh, that are thought to be touristy websites for his or her wealthy biodiversity. Coral reefs, seagrass reefs, sandy seashores, sandbars, marshes, flood basins, estuaries, peninsulas, mangroves and so on. are just a few examples of the aquatic life.
At present these zones are endowed with 17 fish sanctuaries, 5 nationwide parks, and 10 wildlife sanctuaries, all of which may spur the tourism sector’s enlargement. Because of the invention of quite a few new sea seashores, the sector continues to increase and diversify.
Insurance policies and interventions launched to nurture the potential
The federal government of Bangladesh together with the colourful personal sector have launched varied initiatives to develop and promote blue tourism in Bangladesh.
Since 2015, the Authorities of Bangladesh (GoB) has been working to unleash the potentials of Blue-Economic system. To make sure fast implementation Authorities of Bangladesh (GoB) has highlighted main motion factors within the seventh five-year plan (7FYP) and eighth 5 -year plan (8FYP) of Bangladesh.
Moreover, the Ministry of International Affairs (MoFA), GoB, had fashioned the “Blue Economic system Cell” in 2017 to coordinate the operating blue economic system associated tasks throughout sectoral ministries and departments. The federal government of Bangladesh has additionally laid emphasis on the BLUE tourism in numerous growth plans together with Perspective Plan-2041, and Delta Plan-2100.
So as to exploit the tourism potential, Sea cruises between Bangladesh and India have already been launched in March 2019. To encourage overseas guests to Cox’s Bazar’s largest sea seaside, the Bangladesh Financial Zone Authority (BEZA) has been establishing three unique tourism parks there. These parks embody Naf Tourism Park, Sabrang Tourism Park, and Sonadia Eco-Tourism Park.
Bangladesh Tourism Board has formulated a Tourism Grasp Plan for 25 years (2023-2047) for the nation. Primarily a complete of 255 vacationer websites underneath 11 vacationer clusters have been recognized.
These vacationer websites are potential for Eco-Tourism, Seashore & Island Tourism, Pilgrimage/Religious Tourism, Archaeological & Historic Tourism, Riverine Tourism, Journey and Sports activities Tourism, Rural Tourism, Ethno-tourism, MICE Tourism and Cruise Tourism on this coastal and maritime area.
The tourism grasp plan consists of 200+ potential interventions general. The Bangladesh Tourism Grasp Plan requires the fast growth of 13 islands altogether within the coastal area.
Bangladesh Tourism Board (BTB) and UNDP Accelerator Lab Bangladesh’s Joint Initiative:
Within the final quarter of 2022, Bangladesh Tourism Board (BTB) in collaboration with UNDP Accelerator Lab has carried out analysis on Blue Tourism in Bangladesh, particularly within the coastal areas. The core goals of the joint analysis comprise figuring out the coastal and maritime tourism assets, services, and vacationer actions in Bangladesh, mapping vacationer minds, and figuring out the sustainability of Blue Tourism in Bangladesh.
Nonetheless, with the technical help of UNDP Bangladesh Accelerator Lab, Bangladesh Tourism Board (BTB) has begun to work on the execution of Bangladesh’s Tourism Grasp Plan.
Dr. Ramiz Uddin is Head of Experimentation, UNDP Accelerator Lab, Bangladesh; Mohammad Saiful Hassan is (Deputy Secretary), Deputy Director (Analysis and Planning), Bangladesh Tourism Board, Ministry of Civil Aviation and Tourism – Bangladesh.
Supply: UNDP
IPS UN Bureau
© Inter Press Service (2023) — All Rights ReservedOriginal source: Inter Press Service
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