What Do Foreign Tourists Want to See When They Come to Bangladesh?

We know that not many foreign tourists come to Bangladesh. Some of those who are shown as tourists are expatriates, some foreigners come for jobs, there are also businessmen.

Mar 23, 2021
 



Picture: collected

We know that not many foreign tourists come to Bangladesh. Some of those who are shown as tourists are expatriates, some foreigners come for jobs, there are also businessmen. Why this inadequacy of tourists? On the one hand, due to the lack of various initiatives of the government, there are issues related to the visa system, moreover, and there are issues related to cost. There are militant activities on it. On the other hand, many complaints against the Indian media for portraying Bangladesh in a negative light. Or do they like it or what attracts them? We know that the top 10 tourist spots in Bangladesh are Saint Martin, Cox's Bazar, Sajek, Bandarban, Sundarbans, Ratargul, Bichanakandi, Nijhum Island, and Kuakata. We have made the list in such a way that our domestic tourists like it. But foreigners do not come to see other than Sundarbans, Bandarban, Sylhet in this list. Maybe when they come, their main attraction is elsewhere. Why? Why don't they come to see this? Do you think others are the main spectacle? I will say that first. Then I will tell you what foreigners want to see and why they want to see? St. Martin's Coral Island. The most beautiful place in Bangladesh. But there are more places in the world where there are coral islands. Everything there is more beautiful and tidy. And there are all the facilities. The amount of dirt we dump on St. Martin's Island is ruining its beauty. Cox's Bazar, we say the largest beach in the world. Although it is not recognized. Moreover, no one wants to see the big beach. Everyone wants to see the most beautiful, tidy, and safe beach. There are hundreds of more beautiful beaches in the world. There are various entertainment arrangements on those beaches. Sajek, a uniquely beautiful mountain valley in Bangladesh. Many compare it to Darjeeling in India. If it is uniquely beautiful then it will not need to be compared with any other place.


There is nothing comparable to other beautiful mountainous areas of the world. Moreover, travel and other facilities are not enough. However, it cannot be said that its beauty is less in any way. Here the tribes lay on the bends of the hills. Clouds and fog hiding. This is a special place in the case of Bangladesh. Not on a global scale. Because besides its beauty, it needs to have a single feature. Then it will be at the top of the list of places of interest only for foreigners. In Bandarban, flora and fauna are declining and there is a lack of security. There are various restrictions. There are many such places in the world. And there are so many benefits. So would you go to a safe place or an unsafe place to see the same thing? Whatever the global context, Bandarban is our resource, its beauty is undeniable. Tourists go here. But they want to know something different, a single feature. Some of its uniqueness can be found by looking at the culture of the tribes Ratargul Bichanakandi is also a slightly different place and a slightly different type of place, but these are not the main choice even though they are on the list of foreigners' preferences compared to the above. Because many tourism-friendly things have not been developed in our country. And the beauty of these can be enjoyed only in the rain. Even domestic tourists go to these places more and more, on the one hand, it increases the price of goods, on the other hand, the environment becomes dirty. Especially when plastic bottles are discarded. Nijhum Island Kuakata is just an ordinary beach. I have already mentioned the beach. However, on Nijhum Island, deer and mangrove trees combine to create an atmosphere in the Sundarbans. Now let's come to the main point, in our country we travel only to see the mountains and the sea or the natural beauty.


The main purpose of travel is to see the people of a country, to know about them, to see their life up close, to understand their relationship with nature, to know their food, way of life, faith and culture. So let's take a look at the places and things that foreigners come to see, first, we make a list then we will discuss why they go to see:
  1. Sadarghat, Dhaka
  2. Kumarpalli,
  3. Sundarbans
  4. Srimangal, Moulvibazar
  5. Bandarban
  6. Paharpur and Bagerhat
  7. Ahsan Manzil, Lalbagh Fort, and Sonar Gaon
  8. Lauyachhara Ecopark
  9. Rural life, livelihood, and cultural
  10. The way of life and culture of the tribes.
Why do foreigners go to see Sadarghat? Four hundred years ago today, the city of Dhaka was founded from Sadarghat. There are different speeds and natures of people of different colors and professions. That is the real picture of Bangladesh. You may want to show Bashundhara City, it is not Bangladesh. Or Jamuna Future Park is a court of law abroad. These things are abundant in Europe and America. No one must have come here to see that. Come see the real picture here. The launch terminal at Sadarghat is a picture of populous Bangladesh in front of the tourists. What do foreigners see in Dhamraiya Kumarpalli? Kumorpalli of Dhamrai is another Bangladesh. Here the potters make various pottery with clay. If you grew up in a village or if you have pottery next to your house. Then it is nothing to you. But for nature and life-loving foreign tourists, this is a piece of Bangladesh. Because Bangladesh does not mean wearing a suit and tie. Bangladesh means farmers, fishermen, blacksmiths, potters of this country.


People all over the world hold their history and traditions and we hold the culture of foreigners. The black suit tie is the dress of the western world because they wear it, and we wear it because we want to be like them. A few days ago, the image of the King of Swaziland attending the UN General Assembly in his traditional dress went viral. Does Sundarbans attract foreign tourists? Yes, the world's largest mangrove forest, home to the Royal Bengal Tiger, so promising tourists come to see the Sundarbans. Here we have some similarities with them. They come to give the message that the Sundarbans must be saved. We go to give the message that the Sundarbans will eat you one day. Otherwise, why do we throw plastic and water bottles in the river? Why are we eating deer every day and killing tigers? In addition to tigers and deer, there are three other things in the Sundarbans that foreigners try to see if they ever come. These are Rasmela, Banabibir temple, and puja and molasses made from the juice of beautiful trees. Srimangal, Lauyachhara Moulvibazar nature here has not been completely ruined yet. Tacking in Lauyachhara is very enjoyable, the security situation is also quite good. In addition to the tea garden at Maulvi Bazar, the Hamham Jharna is a unique form of immaculate nature. Nature crazy people go there to hang out. Everyone, local or foreign. Moulvibazar also has some local food. Muthi pitha, satkara with haor fish here. In the Chittagong Hill Tracts, Bandarban is less cultivated than other hill districts. Similarly, in Bandarban, there are temples, hills, fountains, lakes, and the highest mountains that attract tourists.


Tourists who want to see the archeological sites. When they are in Dhaka, they go to Lalbagh Fort or Ahsan Manzil. These may not be thousands of years old. Yet these are the bearers of the heritage of our history. And if you take a morning and evening trip from Dhaka, then their destination is Sonar Gaon Folk Art Museum and Panam City. The Museum of Folk Art holds folk traditions. The identity of a country's culture is the folk tradition of that country. And Panama City reminds me of the world-famous Golden Village of that time. In the meantime those who want to go deeper. Mainamati of Comilla as well as War Cemetery during a one-day visit. Of the 9 World War II-centric cemeteries in the subcontinent, 2 are in Bangladesh. More who want to see the history and heritage of Bangladesh for a long time. They drove to Pundranagar in Bogra or Paharpur Bihar in Sompur. Because these speak to our roots. Our country is dominated by villages, agriculture, and rivers. Here the union of man with the river, the green paddy field is like a piece of canvas. This village attracts the traveling world to Bengal. With the naked eye, we often do not understand the beauty of our rural nature. But when a hut in a frame by a photographer reveals the colors of the peasant's life in front of the nature behind it, it beats the artist's paintings. And that is what we can show to the people of the world. Those who visit Bangladesh speak of this simple picture of rural life in Bengal. He also spoke about the love and hospitality of the people of this country. Small ethnic groups, the life, and culture of the indigenous peoples carry the identity of the cultural diversity of the people of any country. So in the case of Bangladesh. The various tribes here have added many dimensions to the culture of this country. They have made their own culture interesting and spectacular in the eyes of others. In this way, they are representing the beautiful. Nowadays, our domestic tourists also come to enjoy the tourism of small ethnic groups.


Friends, I have never said that foreign tourists do not visit Cox's Bazar, Sajek, or St. Martin. But in the eyes of those of you who have visited these places, you must have seen that defeat. And there is no shortage of such places in the world. Moreover, it can be matched with many places in the world. But there may be Sundarbans or Bandarban or Bhimruli Guava Bazaar or Kumor Palli or Shutki Palli. But our Kumor and Tati Palli or Kamar and Jale Palli must have a sense of nationality and Bengalis. And that is our specialty. People from thousands of miles away will come to see the specialty, not the tradition. It doesn't mean that foreigners come to see the line. Because our country does not have many facilities of tourism. The idea of tourism is not clear to us. There is even no highlighting, no complimentary entertainment and travel facilities to the various tourist spots. As a result, we still have a long way to go. I just wanted to say that as we natives think, taking selfies by looking at Nilgiri Nilachal, Kalatali, St. Martin's, and Sajek Valley, tourism is something that can be seen in the eyes of a conceptually advanced tourist, so that was just the subject of this article.

Writer: Sayka Arifin Orpita (Information collected)


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