Bangladesh tourism industry seeks nod for reopening

Coronavirus has afflicted businesses in Bangladesh as elsewhere in the world. The economic crisis caused by the pandemic has left persons in uncertainty about their jobs and business.

The neighborhood tourism industry has come to a standstill as a result of coronavirus lockdown for about three months . 5. As a result, many workers, officials and traders are actually facing livelihood uncertainty, said Anup Kumar Sarkar, coordinator of Bangladesh Association of CARNIVALS and Attractions (BAAPA), in a statement on Tuesday.

Moreover, various rides of parks and recreation centres are getting damaged. Rides create in tourist and carnivals are imported from abroad and will be damaged anytime as the rides have already been remaining closed for years.

Regardless of the business season, the tourist and carnivals are remaining closed at the government's instructions. For this reason, the sector is facing an emergency and the entrepreneurs of the sector are suffering, said Mr Sarkar, who's also Executive Director of Concord Group of Companies.

All tourist and amusement parks beneath the Bangladesh Association of Amusement Parks and Attractions (BAAPA) have previously taken all necessary steps to prevent coronavirus infection relative to the Department of Health's hygiene rules, so the parks could be reopened any time if directed by the federal government, said the statement.

For some time, the country's tourism and amusement park sector has been playing a significant role in development of the country by providing huge income to the public exchequer through tax, VAT and other taxes, aside from employment of a huge population. It's been playing a particular role in creating a promising and healthy next generation.

Moreover, various institutions including hotels, restaurants, stores, transport and airlines have been re-opened to keep carefully the economic activities going. Although the tourism and carnivals have suffered irreparable damage, so far no specific direction has been found to open the parks.

If the parks can re-open prior to the upcoming Eid-ul-Azha, the federal government will get revenue and the traders should be able to survive, it added.