The Bangladesh Foreign Tourists Come to See

Would you like to see Bangladesh transform into an attractive tourist destination? Do you know that, in a crowded market of other destinations, Bangladesh needs to discover her uniqueness and present it to a unique set of tourists in order to accomplish that?

Judging by statements made by tourism ministries under successive governments, and by some self-designated "advice" givers on social media to prospective and present foreign tourists, Bangladeshis largely don't have a clue.

And that is because there is a huge gulf between what adventurous foreigners have already shown interest in in the past, and what well-off locals show interest in, which they project onto foreign guests.

Let's take Dhaka to start with. Are foreign tourists here to visit Bashundhara or Jamuna Future shopping complexes as their first port of call? Are they here simply to walk through the pristine gated communities of the Tri-State area (Gulshan-Banani-Baridhara)?

Are they here to dine at a fine Italian or Latin American restaurant? Are they here to relax next to a swimming pool in one of the posh international hotels? Are they here to sip lattes in upscale cafes only?

Let's now move to the much-hailed world's longest sea beach, i.e. the one at Cox's Bazar. Are foreign tourists really going to arrive in droves using the white elephant of a proposed international airport (thank you, Hasina), to worship the sun, semi-naked, engaging in various forms of debauchery totally out of place in a Muslim-majority country?

To make the above proposition even more absurd, successive governments have contemplated gated resorts containing casinos, bars, nightclubs, private areas, etc. for the guests.

Regardless of whether we as a people would want to see these foreigner-exclusive establishments on our beach, the question that the authorities never asked was why on earth would droves of tourists arrive from abroad to enjoy such facilities in a country like Bangladesh, whereas plenty of those are already spread all throughout the world and well-trodden.

The answer is, they will not. They know that attempting to enjoy the beach, bars, clubs, casinos, etc. in a manner they desire and are used to is simply inappropriate in a Muslim-majority country. They will not come.

Why on earth would we want to promote our country as a tourist destination through such facilities anyway? Is that what our country is about? After all, these are things that our well-off locals desire and will be visited mostly by them if made available.

Foreign tourists, through discussion forums, blogs and vlogs, have told us what our country is all about, far better than most of us seem to know. They have told us that Bangladesh offers unique adventures not present in the same way in many other places on earth. Isn't that what our authorities need to turn their attention to?

I have noticed Bangladeshi YouTube followers recoil at the sight of a foreign tourist riding on top of a moving train. Somehow, that adventure was something for us to be ashamed of -- for that is something a "civilized" and "developed" country would never allow!

But isn't that the point? Aren't they here to experience things they cannot experience in their own countries? Isn't that also the reason why the well-off among us visit other countries too?

There are many city dwellers among us who wouldn't visit certain parts of the city due to perceived (real or otherwise) dust, grime, dirt and overall poor economic and infrastructural conditions. Fair enough, we have our air-conditioned coffee shops.

But must we cringe with embarrassment if foreign tourists find genuine interaction and friendliness among the people who live and toil away in those very environments? After all, Bangladesh's number one selling point is the friendliness and hospitality of her people -- this opinion being unanimous among all tourists.

I know we consider the Buriganga river smelly and dirty. But interested foreign tourists are able to look beyond that and catch a glimpse of a very ancient trading civilization when riding on a hired boat. Perhaps we need to get out more.

Ask a series of Bangladeshis what he or she would consider a major draw for tourists in the country. The answer may drift towards that beach again. Hardly anyone would mention the Padma, Meghna and Jamuna -- the three mighty rivers that form the soul of the country, her trading history, her culture, her heritage.

And yet, the omnipresence of these rivers (particularly mid-year) and their confluence in Chandpur offer an experience that is simply hard to find replicated anywhere else in the world. Shouldn't attractions be developed and promoted involving these rivers and their banks (when visible)?

The possibilities are huge.

Bangladesh is home to some of the most ancient archaeological sites relating to the Buddhist civilization that adorned our land over a thousand years ago.

While UNESCO has protected and maintained them, where is the outreach to Buddhists in our neighbouring countries, and to moneyed and/or highly educated Westerners interested in visiting these places either as pilgrims or as researchers?

Where is the outreach to highlight ancient Hindu temples, mosques and churches? Bangladesh has no dearth of history and many places of interest to vouch for that. Why isn't the country spending at least some amount to maintain and promote these non-UNESCO places?

Of all the various cuisines around the world, ours, and indeed that of the entire Indian Subcontinent, is highly regarded among many nationalities.

Wouldn't it be amazing if rural communities across Bangladesh were given training and other resources to provide tranquil, safe and comfortable village stays to foreign tourists, cuisine being part of the package as well?

Just imagine how that could rejuvenate rural economies, as well as introduce cuisine that is unique to various localities.

This could be tied together with marketing halal-food hospitality for interested international Muslim travellers. The vegetarian cuisine market remains largely unexplored in Bangladesh, and yet, with a little imagination, the possibilities are endless.

This takes me to an area that has already been explored in Bangladesh thanks to previous initiators -- ecotourism, particularly in areas of the Chittagong Hill Tracts -- staying and dining with the thriving tribal communities. This needs to be expanded for the benefit of everyone.

To promote Bangladesh's tourism industry, we need to look beyond what we would desire as local tourists and focus on what foreign tourists tell us they are interested in.

Seeing our country through their eyes can reveal beauty where we thought none existed, and fun and adventure where we felt cringe and embarrassment. And that may also change the way we think of ourselves and our country.

Riaz Osmani is a political and social analyst.