|
"Vigorous campaign needed to
attract tourists"
A Bangladeshinfo.com Exclusive Interview
Bangladesh has no alternative to taking measures to flourish tourism industry
immediately as a viable means for making the burgeoning hotel business sector
sustainable, says the Managing Director of Best Western La Vinci Hotel in the
capital city.
ATM Saidul Alam firmly believes that the country can easily attract hundreds
of tourists only by selling the name of the Sundarbans, the largest mangrove
forest on the earth, which was declared as world heritage by the UNESCO.
"The government should immediately launch advertisement campaign for
attracting tourists by upholding the Sundarbans' Royal Bengal Tigers, the
net-like rivers, the green countryside and the sandy beach in Cox's Bazar," he
said in an interview with Bangladeshinfo.com.
Most of the foreigners come to Bangladesh with business missions and a very
small percentage is in the category of tourists although the country has
enough potential for growing tourism as a successful foreign exchange earning
industry.
An already seasoned tourism-related businessman, Saidul Alam foretells a tough
time awaiting hotel business in the country as five more giant hotels with the
capacity of 1500 rooms are coming into operation soon. Even if 150 additional
travelers everyday start pouring in to Bangladesh, most of the rooms (say,
1350) of new hotels will remain vacant, he pointed out.
La Vinci Hotel is the third hotel after Pan Pacific Sonargaon and Dhaka
Sheraton in Bangladesh having international network and after making
affiliation with the world's largest hotel chain Best Western it has been a
beneficiary of global booking facilities available in more than 80 countries.
La Vinci is the first joint venture with Italy implemented under Board of
Investment (BOI).
Asked about the future of hotel business, he said that the prospect is gloomy
unless tourism flourishes in a short span of time. He cited that the mushroom
growth of hotels in Malaysia, Indonesia, and even Thailand, created problem of
non-occupancy and lower charge for services, leaving huge losses to the
entrepreneurs.
The La Vinci MD does no worry about his own business because of its advantage
for having chain with Best Western. With 85 per cent occupancy rate, 60-room
Best Western La Vinci Hotel is going to draw more than 100 per cent turnout,
meaning an overbooking in running its business.
"Besides our business, we represent Bangladesh through Best Western and try to
promote the image of the country abroad," Saidul Alam said referring to the
recent coverage by CNN television that mentioned Bangladesh's name first in
the midst of many nations.
According to him, foreign investment is a long-term solution to problem of
hotel business, but immediate solution is to increase the inflow of tourists.
Finally, he said, the government should build infrastructure and ensure
security to the tourists for development of the sector.
|
