DHAKA: A three-day international tourism fair titled ‘Monitor Dhaka Travel Mart’ began on Thursday in city.

Civil aviation and tourism minister Rashed Khan Menon inaugurated the fair in the afternoon at Sonargaon Pan Pacific Hotel.

The minister said that country's airlines can attract foreign holidaymakers by announcing attractive packages. Moreover, Bangladeshi expatriates should be encouraged to visit their native country.

Ministry’s secretary Khorshed Alam Chowdhury, Biman Bangladesh Airlines chief executive officer (CEO) Kyle Haywood and ‘The Bangladesh Monitor’ editor-in-chief Raqib Siddique were present at the ceremony.

Travel periodical ‘The Bangladesh Monitor’ has organized the fair in association with Bangladesh Tourism Board, Bangladesh Parjatan Corporation and Biman Bangladesh Airlines.

Terming the ongoing fair a ‘milestone event’, the organizers hoped that they are expecting about 15,000 visitors at the fair as about 12,000 people visited past year’s exposition.

According to them, more foreign holidaymakers should be attracted in the country to make tourism a sustainable sector.

Mentioning the government’s declaration of 2016 as ‘Tourism Year’, the government has set a target to attract a significant number of foreign tourists next year.

However, besides the host Bangladesh, about 50 organisations including National Tourism Organisations (NTOs), Airlines, Tour Operators, Hotels, Resorts, Healthcare service providers and Financial & Educational Institutions, are taking part in the fair.

The fair be open from 10:00am to 8:00pm till April 11 where special discounts on air tickets, tour packages and other services are being offered to the holidaymakers.

BDST: 1950 HRS, APR 09, 2015
RR/RS