Govt seeks world-class airports to attract tourists: Minister

Civil Aviation and Tourism Minister M Rashiduzzaman Millat has said the government plans to develop world-class airports and improve tourism facilities to attract more foreign visitors and encourage them to stay longer in Bangladesh.

He said Bangladesh has significant tourism potential, with rivers, beaches, hills and forests, but the country has failed to properly develop and manage these attractions.

“We are not thinking of tourism. People come and stay. We have everything–rivers, sea, hills and forests. But we have not been able to arrange and manage them properly,” the minister said.

He was speaking at a policy conclave titled “World-Class Aviation for Bangladesh’s Economic Progress”, organised by the Daily Bonik Barta and The Prestige at United Convention Centre in the capital’s Kurmitola area on Saturday.

The minister said airports are the gateway and “mirror” of a country and their facilities need to meet international standards.

“We have to move away from the condition of the airports that we inherited,” he said, adding that the government has taken initiatives to improve passenger facilities and airport services.

He said the government is also working to expand international connectivity and strengthen the aviation sector as part of its plan to turn Bangladesh into a regional aviation hub.

The minister said a third terminal at Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport (HSIA) would increase passenger-handling capacity significantly, while the government is also working to develop another international airport in Cox’s Bazar.

“We are taking measures to enrich the tourism industry,” he said, adding that the government is considering public-private partnership and joint models, as well as greater private-sector involvement in facilities that cannot be efficiently operated by the government.

He said such measures are intended to create a more vibrant tourism sector and provide better facilities for international visitors so that they can spend more time in Bangladesh.

The minister also highlighted the need to improve aircraft maintenance facilities in Bangladesh. He said aircraft currently have to be sent to India or Singapore for repairs and maintenance, and the government plans to simplify civil aviation rules where necessary to facilitate maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO) activities.

He urged airlines and other stakeholders to actively participate in the process of reviewing and reforming aviation regulations.

“Airlines are our main stakeholders,” he said, asking industry representatives to identify regulatory barriers and suggest changes that would make their operations easier.

State Minister for Foreign Affairs Humaiun Kobir said Bangladesh must upgrade its airport infrastructure, strengthen its national airline and ensure international standards in ground handling to become a regional aviation hub.

He said the country also needs to expand its aircraft fleet, route network and flight frequencies while developing cargo capacity to take advantage of growing trade and e-commerce.

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“We must build our own maintenance, repair and overhaul facilities and create local aviation training centres,” he said.

Kobir said Bangladesh should maintain an open-skies policy as far as possible to allow airlines from around the world to use the country as a gateway to South and Southeast Asia, the Middle East and beyond.

He also stressed the potential of new routes and low-cost airline partnerships with East Asian markets, including China, Japan and South Korea, saying these could support tourism, trade and investment.

The state minister said the government is close to concluding negotiations on the operation of the HSIA third terminal and expects a soft opening in December, followed by full operation around March-April.

More than 500 policymakers, experts, diplomats, entrepreneurs and representatives of local and foreign organisations took part in the conclave, where participants discussed the potential and challenges of Bangladesh’s aviation sector, investment opportunities, infrastructure development and policy reforms.