Bangladesh fails to attract foreign tourists

From the world's longest natural uninterrupted sea beach to the largest mangrove forest, the Sundarbans—along with mountains, rivers, archaeological sites, and a rich cultural heritage—Bangladesh has it all. Despite huge potential driven by these spectacular destinations, the country has yet to establish its desired position in the international market. Instead, the number of foreign tourists and travelers has declined in recent times.

Tourism operators say that despite having unique natural and cultural attractions, the number of foreign tourists remains relatively low due to a lack of adequate entertainment facilities, poor coordination, policy weaknesses, insufficient infrastructure, and weak promotion of Bangladesh as a destination on the international stage.

Additionally, weak transport and communication systems, limited quality accommodation, a lack of culinary diversity tailored to foreign tastes, and a shortage of trained tour guides pose major obstacles to the growth of Bangladesh’s tourism sector. Complex visa procedures and ongoing security concerns further discourage potential foreign tourists. Owing to these constraints, the sector's potential to create employment, boost economic growth, and improve regional connectivity remains fully unexploited.

Against this backdrop, World Tourism Day is being observed today, Sunday. Like other countries across the globe, Bangladesh will celebrate the day through various programs. This year's theme is "Future Tourism in Digital Transformation and Artificial Intelligence."

According to statistics from the Bangladesh Tourism Board (BTB), 585,145 foreign travelers visited Bangladesh in 2025. In 2024, this number was 660,000—representing an 11.34% drop over a single year.

Industry insiders note that these foreign traveler figures include business people and other categories of visitors alongside vacationers, meaning the actual number of foreign leisure tourists could be even lower.

Revenue from foreign tourists is similarly unimpressive. According to Asian Development Bank (ADB) data, Bangladesh earned $453 million from foreign tourists in 2023, which dropped to $440 million in 2024. However, a report by the UN agency 'UN Tourism' noted that Bangladesh's revenue from foreign tourists in 2025 grew by 17% compared to the previous year.

Despite this progress, Bangladesh lags far behind on the global tourism stage. According to the World Economic Forum's Travel & Tourism Development Index 2026, Bangladesh ranked 98th out of 110 economies. Out of 18 evaluated countries in the Asia-Pacific region, Bangladesh ranked dead last. In comparison, India ranked 31st, Sri Lanka 69th, Nepal 86th, and Pakistan 95th.

In the draft of Bangladesh's first National Tourism Master Plan, a target has been set to increase the number of international tourists to 5.8 million by 2040. However, industry insiders believe that achieving this target will be difficult unless the government prioritizes the tourism sector.

Due to its long natural coastline, Cox's Bazar attracts the highest number of tourists. Yet, entertainment and leisure facilities for foreign visitors remain extremely limited. Cox's Bazar lacks a vibrant nightlife, adequate security, and dedicated zones designated specifically for international tourists. Furthermore, adventure-based activities such as parasailing, scuba diving, and skydiving are mostly absent.

Mijanur Rahman, Director of Media & Public Relations at the Tour Operators Association of Bangladesh (TOAB), told Agamir Somoy that Bangladesh lacks adequate entertainment facilities for foreign visitors. Although Cox's Bazar is the most critical tourist hotspot, there is little for foreign tourists to do beyond simply enjoying the beach. There are no concrete public or private initiatives in this regard. On top of that, security concerns and persistent harassment from street hawkers are regular issues.

However, Mutasim Billah Faruqui, Chief Executive Officer of the Bangladesh Tourism Board (BTB), said that they are working on several initiatives to attract foreign tourists. Key measures include simplifying the visa policy, developing Cox's Bazar into an international tourist destination, and promoting sports, adventure, and religious tourism. Additionally, for the first time on the occasion of World Tourism Day, the Tourism Board has taken the initiative to present the "Bangladesh Tourism Award 2026" across 13 categories.