In Japan to promote tourism to his nation, the head of Bangladesh's national tourism organization acknowledged that cyclones, not tourist spots, generally come to mind when mention is made of the populous Southeast Asian nation. It is a perception he hopes to overturn.
"Bangladesh is one of the most diverse nations in the region, having much potential for tourism development," Hafizur Rahman Bhuyian, chairman of Bangladesh Parjatan Corp., said during his presentation at a seminar Thursday in Tokyo.
In addition to three World Heritage sites, including an eighth-century Buddhist monastery in Paharpur, the nation also boasts the world's longest natural sandy beach, at Cox's Bazar, and many wildlife sanctuaries for eco-tourism, he said.
Bhuyian said the Bangladesh government, in cooperation with the local tourism industry, plans to launch an intensive drive to attract more Japanese tourists.
According to official figures, a total of 4,370 Japanese businesspeople and tourists visited Bangladesh in 2006, accounting for only 2 percent of all foreign visitors. The figure in the first 10 months of 2007 was 4,489.