Bangladesh tourism industry seeks nod for reopening
Published 16 Jul,2020 via The Financial Express - Coronavirus has affected businesses in Bangladesh as elsewhere in the world. The economic crisis caused by the pandemic has left people in uncertainty about their jobs and business.
The local tourism industry has come to a standstill due to the coronavirus lockdown for about three months and a half. As a result, many workers, officials and traders are now facing livelihood uncertainty, said Anup Kumar Sarkar, coordinator of Bangladesh Association of Amusement Parks and Attractions (BAAPA), in a statement on Tuesday.
Moreover, various rides of parks and recreation centres are getting damaged. Rides set up in tourist and amusement parks are imported from abroad and can be damaged at any time as the rides have been remaining closed for a long time.
Despite the business season, the tourist and amusement parks are remaining closed at the government's instructions. Due to this, the sector is facing a crisis and the entrepreneurs of this sector are suffering, said Mr Sarkar, who is also Executive Director of Concord Group of Companies.
All tourist and amusement parks under the Bangladesh Association of Amusement Parks and Attractions (BAAPA) have already taken all necessary steps to prevent coronavirus infection in accordance with the Department of Health's hygiene rules, so the parks can be reopened any time if directed by the government, said the statement.
For a long time, the country's tourism and amusement park sector has been playing a major role in development of the country by providing huge revenue to the public exchequer through income tax, VAT and other taxes, apart from employment of a large population. It has been playing a special role in building a promising and healthy next generation.
Moreover, various institutions including hotels, restaurants, shopping malls, transport and airlines have been re-opened to keep the economic activities going. Although the tourism and amusement parks have suffered irreparable damage, so far no specific direction has been found to open the parks.
If the parks can re-open ahead of the upcoming Eid-ul-Azha, the government will get revenue and the traders will be able to survive, it added.
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