HOW MUCH DO BANGLADESHI TOURISTS SPEND WHEN THEY VISIT INDIA?

Shubhajyoti Ghosh BBC Bangla, Delhi 17 July 2018

The biggest tourist attraction in India is the Taj Mahal   Millions of Bangladeshi tourists are coming to India every year and their number is increasing, how much money do they spend coming to India?   According to India's tourism minister, Bangladeshis spend more than Western tourists, but in no way less.   He told BBC Bangla that Bangladeshis spend a hefty sum in India on shopping and medical bills, even if they don't do so in five-star hotels or business class - and that's why India wants more tourists from that country.   What is the type of expenditure of Bangladeshi nationals coming to India and what is the tourism industry of India looking at? I conducted a field search in Delhi.   Bangladesh has occupied the place from which most foreign tourists come to India for almost three years, surpassing America.     The Indian embassy in Dhaka now grants more visas than any other Indian mission in the world - and at least 16 to 18 lakh Bangladeshis now come to India every year.

fig: Collected

But the idea that they don't spend as much as white tourists in the West - according to India's Tourism Minister KJ Alfonso - is completely wrong.   He told BBC Bangla, "Bangladeshi tourists come here and spend a lot of money. There are basically two places for them to spend - shopping for weddings, and medical tourism."   "They spend a lot in these two sectors - without any stinginess - they spend money on both hands. So I am very happy, I will tell Bangladeshis to come and do more!"   Tourists who come to India from Europe or North America spend a large part of their budget on luxury trains or transport, such as five-star hotels or the Palace on Wheels.     Read more on our page:   Three Divorce Fatwa: Shahbina is forced to spend the night with her father-in-law   Do we have to keep quota in government service in Bangladesh?   Bangladeshi arrested in Malaysia for insulting Khaleda Zia on Facebook Live   Pranab Sarkar, president of the Indian Association of Tour Operators in Delhi, said the cost pattern of Bangladeshi tourists may not be directly benefiting the country's tourism sector - but it is benefiting the country's economy in a different way.

  Mr Sarkar told the BBC: "The hospitality industry may not be very profitable for Bangladeshis - because many times they may be living in the homes of acquaintances or relatives, and leaving on a low budget."   "If a European tourist spends an average of one hundred dollars a day, Bangladeshis limit their spending to between twenty and twenty-five dollars. That means an average Bangladeshi spends only twenty-five percent on our tourism sector compared to Europeans."   "But they are compensating for it elsewhere. Those who come here for medical tourism, buying huge amounts of wedding shopping items and paying the hospital bills, the total cost is the same as in the West," said Pranab Sarkar.   Besides, a group of Bangladeshis spend a lot of money on pilgrimage like Ajmer Sharif.   Kolkata's New Market is very popular among Bangladeshis for shopping   Western tourists, on the other hand, have a large share of backpackers or very low-budget tourists - there is almost no harm in buying their souvenirs.   Other white tourists do not have much shopping craze. But Bangladeshis are a big exception here, says Shivani Bhattacharya of Hindustan Travels in Kolkata.  

In his words, "Shopping is the main target of Bangladeshis who come to Kolkata. When planning travel for them, we are always told to set aside at least one whole day for shopping! In fact, modern fashionable clothes and many other things are cheaper in Kolkata. Maybe that's the idea! "   "It's not that Western tourists don't shop at all. They want to travel as much as possible. But they also buy things, but only a couple of things. But Bangladeshis buy bags and carry them," he said.   India's tourism department has always tried to attract tourists from the West through advertising campaigns, promos or road shows, but Tourism Minister KJ Alfonso told the BBC that attitude was changing.   "I don't care if white, black or brown tourists come to my country. As long as they are creating jobs in this country, I have money in my pocket and when they see India they say 'Wow, what a beautiful country' we are happy."   "And why don't Bangladeshis come to India - to get such good doctors and medical services at such a low cost or where will they get them? They will get better treatment here at a fraction of the cost than in the US-UK", he said.   Just a few days ago, India's largest visa center in the world was inaugurated in Dhaka. Indian visa restrictions have also been relaxed for Bangladeshis.   And it is clear from the words of the Minister of Tourism, why India is trying desperately to attract Bangladeshi tourists!

Written by, Sayka Arifin Orpita

References (Information Collected)  

Click Here to Visit