Global Sustainable Tourism Criteria

Perspective Bangladesh

Akhtaruz Zaman Khan kabir CEO

Geographic Location

BANGLADESH TOURISM

Official Name : The People's Republic of Bangladesh

Geographical Location : Latitude between 20o34' and 26o38' North Longitude between 88o01' and 92o41' East

Area : 147,570 sq. km.

Boundaries : North - India (West Bengal and Meghalaya), West - India (West Bengal) East - India (Tripura and Assam) and Myanmar, South-Bay of Bengal.

Capital City : Dhaka

Other Major Cities : Chittagong, Khulna, Sylhet, Rajshahi, Barisal, Rangpur

Standard Time : GMT +6 Hours

Climate Variation : Winter 11o C - 20o C (October - February) Summer 21o C - 38o C (March - September)

Population 14,97,72,364 (2011)

Business Hours : Government Office Hours: 9.00 a.m. to 5.00 p.m. Sunday-Thursday, Friday & Saturday closed. Some Private business houses work on Saturday.

Best Tourist Season : October to March.

BANGLADESH TOURISM

Melting Pot of Civilization Buddhism Hinduism Muslim

People & and their lifestyle History & Archaeological Sites Eco-tourism Attractions Green Hills Indigenous People Rural and Agri-Tourism Beaches and offshore islands Tea Gardens Riverine Tourism

TOURIST ATTRACTIONS

LARGEST ECO-TOURIST ATTRACTION

Sundarbans The largest Mangrove forest Tiger, Wildlife, Avian Life, Flora-fauna, Fisherman Community Honey Collectors

Existing Market Segment (Purpose of visit)

India - Business, VFR UK - NRB, Cultural holiday, business USA - NRB, Cultural holiday, business Canada - NRB, Cultural holiday, business Japan - Holiday Makers, business China - Business, Holiday Makers Germany - Holiday Makers, Business Australia - Holiday Makers, Business Korea - Business Malaysia - Business Taiwan - Business

Foods of Bangladesh

Land of Handloom Products

Uniqueness of Product

People & Lifestyle - Meet the people and meet the wisdom

Historical Attractions - Melting Pot of Civilization

Sundarbans - Deltaic Swampy Forest saving Bangladesh

- Origin of Royal Bengal Tiger

North Bengal - Heritage Higway

Dhaka - City of the most varieties living in the world

Earnings

2009 - 84.2 (M US $) 2010 - 80.5 '' 2011 - 87.4 '' 2012 - 49.6 ( up to June) ''

Tourist Arrivals

2005 - 207662 2006 - 200311 2007 - 289110 2008- 2011 - 1171716

defines "Tourism that takes full account of its current and future ECONOMIC, SOCIAL and ENVIRONMENTAL impacts, addressing the needs of visitors, the industry, the environment and host communities“

WHAT IS SUSTAINABILITY ?

The International Ecotourism Society (TIES) defines

ecotourism as “RESPONSIBLE travel to natural areas that conserves the environment and improves THE WELLBEING OF THE LOCAL COMMUNITY."

WHAT IS SUSTAINABILITY ?

But adoption and maintaining sustainability depends on some of the factors

UNDERSTANDING SUSTAINABILITY of the host community, policy makers and the visitors READINESS of the tourism resources EXISITING TYPE OF USAGE of the resources by the local community LONG TERM VISION of the policy makers

CHALLENGES FOR SUSTAINABILITY

Responsible Tourism Eco-tourism

Voluntourism Ggeotourism Rural Tourism Soft Tourism Community Tourism Equitable Tourism

Form of Sustainable Tourism

Whatever the forms of Sustainable Tourism Four main OBJECTIVES may be defined

Optimal use of environmental resource and minimize the negative impact Respect to Socio-cultural values of the host community Viable economic impact & High Quality Visitor experience ( may not mass, but for niche)

Objectives

Global Sustainable Tourism Council (GSTC) introduced ----

Global Sustainable Tourism Criteria – for hotel & tour

operator

Global Sustainable Tourism Criteria – for Destination

Global Sustainable Tourism Council (GSTC)

There are many organizations offering

Standardization of Sustainability VIABILITY should be assessed by UNWTO to introduce a common guidelines for adopting sustainability for its member countries Which the member countries can use as NATIONAL GUIDELINE

Common Guideline

FEW POINT ABOUT CRITERIA

Global Sustainable Tourism Criteria – for hotel & tour

operators

Global Sustainable Tourism Criteria – for Destination

SUGGESTED CRITERIA Global sustainable Travel Criteria – for airlines, cruise lines, surface transports, water transport Global Sustainable Tourism Criteria- for Protected Area

More Criteria

THREE criteria may be incorporated for Destination Authenticity Preservation of Vintages Free from health hazards such as smoking

FOR DESTINATION

The CHALLENGES are

Most of the locals are NOT AWARE of the conservation

of tourist resources

Most of the people are ILLITERATE either

Lack of Policy guidelines of the Government

DENSITY OF POPULATION in this region

They are vulnerable to the EXTERNAL FACTORS

Products are often offered for both MASS & NICHE

OVER EXPECTATION of rapid growth damaging the

potentials

CHALLENGES FOR DEVELOPING NATIONS

Sustainable development is institutionalized in Bangladesh as the constitutional bondage `Article 18 A of the Constitution Protection & Improvement of Environment and Biodiversity; in the Constitution of the People’s Republic of Bangladesh states that, “The state shall endeavour to protect and improve the environment and to preserve and safe- guard the natural resources, biodiversity, wetlands, forest and wildlife for the present and future citizens”.

Sustainable Tourism Development in Bangladesh

Sustainable Development is one of the main policy objectives of FIVE YEAR PLAN The 6 th Five Year Plan (FYP) covering the period 2011-15 Has 16 core targets for enhancing economic growth, poverty reduction, employment generation, human capital development, gender balance and ENVIRONMENT PROTECTION.

SUSTAINABILITY IN FIVE YEAR PLAN (FYP)

Government is implementing National Sustainable Development Strategy (NSDS) which focus the following main area

Sustained Economic Growth Agriculture and Rural Development Social Security and Protection Environment and Natural Resource Management Good Governance Human Resource Development and Management Gender

National Sustainable Development Strategy (NSDS)

Bangladesh adopted NATIONAL TOURISM POLICY-2010

Main OBJECTIVES of the Policy Develop ECO-TOURISM through conservation of natural resources and promote wellbeing of the community’ PRESERVATION of cultural values of the local community and their participation and sharing benefits

Sustainable Tourism Development in Bangladesh

Government of Bangladesh launched an act of ` Protected areas of tourism and special tourism zone Act -2010’ Government identified areas and restricted the development and tourist movement and usages FOR SUSTAINABILITY

LEGAL FRAMEWORK

National Parks - 17 Wildlife Sanctuary -34 Game Reserve -1 Eco-Park - 5

Safari Park - 1

Protected areas of Bangladesh

BANGLADESH TOURISM BOARD not yet the member of GLOBAL SUSTAINABLE TOURISM CRITERIA

Interested to become a MEMBER which should make ensure the INCREASED BENEFITS MARKET ACCESS COMPETTIVE EDGE

THANK YOU