Foreign Tourist Revenue in Bangladesh Drops by $13 Million in One Year

Bangladesh’s tourism sector is experiencing a downturn, with the industry increasingly reliant on domestic tourists. According to a recent Asian Development Bank (ADB) report, revenue from foreign tourists decreased by $13 million (approximately Tk 159 crore at an exchange rate of Tk 122 per dollar) in 2024 compared to 2023. The report, based on economic and social indicators from Asia and the Pacific, highlights the state of various sectors across countries and regions.

In 2023, Bangladesh earned $453 million from foreign tourists, which dropped to $440 million in 2024. Industry insiders attribute this decline to a reduction in foreign tourist arrivals. The revenue reflects spending by foreign visitors on accommodation, food, and travel within the country.

The ADB report also compares tourism revenue and visitor numbers across South Asian countries, noting that India attracts the highest number of foreign tourists, followed by the Maldives and Sri Lanka. India’s tourism revenue rose from $3,220 million in 2023 to $3,502 million in 2024, while Sri Lanka saw an increase of $101 million, reaching $317 million. In contrast, Bangladesh’s tourism sector struggles due to limited foreign arrivals. Mohammad Rafeuzzaman, President of the Tour Operators Association of Bangladesh (TOAB), cited multiple reasons for the decline, including insufficient promotion of tourism spots like the Sundarbans and Cox’s Bazar, lack of online or electronic visa facilities, and ongoing political instability. He emphasized that enhanced promotion of archaeological sites, religious pilgrimage destinations, and natural attractions, coupled with political stability, could boost both domestic and foreign tourism. According to the ADB report, South Asia saw 17.4 million tourist arrivals in 2022, which increased to 23.3 million in 2023. A 2020 Bangladesh Bureau of Statistics (BBS) Tourism Satellite Account report noted that in the 2018-19 fiscal year, Bangladesh hosted 1.64 million tourists, with 1.35 million (over 80%) being non-resident Bangladeshis (NRBs) and 290,000 (around 20%) foreign tourists. Of these, 72% traveled by air and 28% by land. Mahibul Islam, Deputy Director (Marketing and Branding) of the Bangladesh Tourism Board, highlighted a positive post-COVID trend in both domestic and international tourism. He noted that international tourism revenue has grown fivefold over the past decade. However, sustaining this growth requires new marketing strategies, modern technology in promotional activities, diversification of tourism offerings, and targeted marketing based on tourist attractions.