The Minister for Civil Aviation and Tourism, Afroza Khanam, informed the National Parliament that the government has initiated a "Tourism Mega Plan" aiming to attract 55.7 million tourists and create 21.9 million jobs by 2040.

She shared this information on Wednesday (April 29) while responding to a starred question from A.E. Sultan Mahmud Babu, a treasury bench member from the Jamalpur-2 constituency.

Strategic Goals and Investment
The Minister stated that under the scope of this Mega Plan, tourism is being positioned as a primary driver of economic growth. To achieve the 2040 targets, the government is focusing on:

Tourism Mega Plan (2026–2040): A comprehensive roadmap including a clear investment strategy.

Policy Updates: The National Tourism Policy will be updated in 2025 to ensure the sector remains sustainable and inclusive.

Private Investment: Encouraging private sector participation through Public-Private Partnerships (PPP) for infrastructure development.

One-Stop Service: Plans are underway to launch a "One-Stop Service" center to facilitate ease of business for investors and tourists.

Employment and Skill Development
Minister Afroza Khanam highlighted that approximately 5.19 million people are currently employed in the tourism sector, a figure expected to rise to 7.28 million by 2030. To meet these demands, the government has already implemented several training programs:

Training Success: Between FY 2021-22 and 2024-25, training was provided to 1,943 tour operators, 1,215 tour guides, and 1,527 street food vendors.

Volunteers: 3,085 individuals have been trained as tourism volunteers.

Human Capital: The "National Tourism Human Capital Development Strategy (2021–2030)" is being executed to build a highly skilled workforce.

Sustainability and Inclusion
The Minister emphasized eco-friendly infrastructure and community-based tourism, particularly in Kuakata and coastal regions. Key initiatives include:

Women's Empowerment: Encouraging female entrepreneurs with low-interest loans and policy support to create a "women-friendly" hospitality environment.

Rural Economy: Utilizing local festivals, ethnic traditions, and handicrafts to promote rural tourism.

Exclusive Zones: Development of an Exclusive Tourist Zone in the Sabrang area of Teknaf via the Bangladesh Economic Zones Authority (BEZA).

Additionally, projects are being implemented on land owned by the Bangladesh Parjatan Corporation in Cox's Bazar through PPP models to draw significant investment.