Bangladesh’s potential to attract more visitors from Thailand came under discussion at a tourism dialogue organised by the United Tourism Stakeholders Society of Bangladesh (UTSSOB) in Dhaka.
Phiraya Woranitiyaowapha, managing director of Thai tour operator Rinnaya, shared her observations following an 11-day familiarisation trip to Bangladesh, fully sponsored by UTSSOB, covering destinations including Rajshahi, Bogra and Srimangal.
She described Bangladesh’s “living heritage”, natural landscapes and hospitable people as key strengths that could appeal to Thai travellers seeking cultural and spiritual experiences.
Woranitiyaowapha proposed a “Kolkata-Plus” tourism model, under which Bangladesh could be promoted as a three- to five-day extension for tourists already travelling to established regional destinations such as Kolkata and Kathmandu. She identified the Sundarbans, Khulna, Paharpur and Mahasthangarh as particularly promising attractions.
She, however, identified poor road conditions, lengthy travel times, inadequate roadside facilities and visa-processing difficulties as major obstacles to expanding international tourist arrivals.
She recommended introducing comfortable tourist coaches, clean and modern rest facilities along major highways, and a convenient e-visa system to make Bangladesh more accessible to international visitors.
She also stressed the need for better-trained guides who can effectively present the historical and cultural stories behind Bangladesh’s Buddhist heritage. Community-based tourism and locally produced eco-friendly handicrafts could also help generate employment and distribute tourism benefits among local communities, she said.
The programme concluded with a dinner hosted by H.M. Hakim Ali, President of UTSSOB and Father of Tourism in Bangladesh, at Days Hotel Dhaka.
H.M. Hakim Ali said the initiative was aimed at strengthening international tourism linkages and identifying practical strategies to position Bangladesh more effectively in emerging source markets such as Thailand.