Project Title: Investing in People, Planet, Prosperity and Green Investment, World

Tourism Day 2023, Bangladesh.

History: The United Nations World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) was established in
1970 to promote responsible, sustainable, and universally accessible tourism. In 1979, the
UNWTO General Assembly declared World Tourism Day, celebrated on September 27, the
anniversary of the adoption of the UNWTO Statutes. The theme has evolved annually to reflect
the current state of tourism and its challenges. Past themes include Investing in People, Planet,
and Prosperity, Inclusive Growth, Recovery and Social Cohesion, Tourism and Health, and Jobs
for a Better Future for All. World Tourism Day is celebrated in various ways, including special
events and raising awareness of its importance. Its goal is to promote tourism as a force for good,
creating jobs, boosting economic growth, promoting cultural understanding, protecting the
environment, and preserving cultural heritage. It also celebrates the beauty and diversity of the
world and its people.

Introduction
Tourism is a major economic driver for Bangladesh, contributing to over 5% of GDP and
employing millions of people. However, the sector has been hit hard by the COVID-19
pandemic, with international arrivals plummeting by over 90% in 2020. In order to recover from
the pandemic and ensure the long-term sustainability of the tourism sector, Bangladesh needs to
invest in people, the planet, and prosperity. This means investing in education and skills training
for the tourism workforce, sustainable infrastructure, and innovation and entrepreneurship. This
concept note outlines a proposal for the Bangladesh Tourism Board (BTB) to celebrate World
Tourism Day 2023 by hosting a series of events and activities that focus on these three key areas
of investment.

Background
The UNWTO emphasizes the importance of investments in tourism for recovery, growth, and
development. World Tourism Day 2023 aims to mobilize the international community,
governments, multilateral financial institutions, development partners, and private sector
investors to formulate a new tourism investment strategy. The day focuses on investing in
education, skills development, sustainable infrastructure, green transformation, innovation,
technology, and entrepreneurship. These investments will empower individuals, reduce the
ecological footprint of tourism, and promote prosperity. By aligning investments with education,
sustainable infrastructure, green transformation, innovation, technology, and entrepreneurship,
the tourism industry can adapt to new challenges and ensure a sustainable and prosperous future.

Project Strategy
The proposed events and activities for World Tourism Day 2023 will focus on the following
three areas:
  Investing in People: The BTB will host a series of educational workshops and training
programs for tourism workers and entrepreneurs. These programs will focus on providing
participants with the skills and knowledge they need to succeed in the tourism sector.
 Investing in the Planet: The BTB will partner with local businesses and organizations to
promote sustainable tourism practices. These practices could include things like reducing
waste, conserving energy, and using sustainable transportation options.
 Investing in Prosperity: The BTB will host a trade show and investment forum to
connect tourism businesses with investors and other partners. The forum will also provide
an opportunity for businesses to showcase their products and services to potential
customers.


Expected Results
The expected results of the proposed events and activities are:
 Increased tourism sector awareness through social media campaigns, public events, and
media outreach.
 Enhanced tourism skills through educational workshops and training programs.
 Promoting sustainable tourism practices for reduced environmental impact.
 Tourism businesses showcase products and services for increased investment.
 Boosted tourism revenue, job creation through increased awareness, skills, and
investment.

The expected benefits of the proposed events and activities are both quantitative and
qualitative. The quantitative benefits include:
 Increased number of participants in educational workshops and training programs
 Decreased amount of waste generated by tourism businesses
 Increased number of tourism businesses that adopt sustainable practices
 Increased number of investors attending the trade show and investment forum
 Increased tourism revenue
 Increased number of jobs created in the tourism sector
The qualitative benefits of the proposed events and activities include:
 Increased awareness of the importance of sustainable tourism
 Increased skills and knowledge among tourism workers and entrepreneurs
 Increased collaboration between tourism businesses and government officials
 Increased investment in the tourism sector
 Increased tourism revenue and job creation
The underlying assumptions and reasons why these benefits can be expected for a specific
group of beneficiaries are as follows:
  Increased awareness of the importance of sustainable tourism will lead to increased
demand for sustainable tourism products and services. This will in turn lead to increased
investment in sustainable tourism businesses.
 Increased skills and knowledge among tourism workers and entrepreneurs will lead to
improved performance of tourism businesses. This will in turn lead to increased tourism
revenue and job creation.
 Reduced environmental impact of tourism will make tourism more attractive to tourists.
This will in turn lead to increased tourism revenue and job creation.
 Increased investment in tourism businesses will lead to increased tourism revenue and job
creation.
The impacts of the proposed events and activities will be assessed through a variety of
methods, including:
 Participant surveys
 Stakeholder interviews
 Economic impact analysis
 Environmental impact assessment.

Activities for World Tourism Board Bangladesh (4-Day Event):

 Food, Culture, and Craft Exhibition

Organize a grand exhibition featuring food, cultural displays, and traditional crafts from all 64 districts of
Bangladesh.

Showcase the rich cultural heritage and culinary delights of each district, providing visitors with a unique experience
of the country's diverse traditions.

Facilitate interactions between visitors and local artisans, promoting cultural exchange and appreciation.

 Hotel Showcase and Networking Event

Arrange a hotel showcase event where representatives from various hotels across Bangladesh can exhibit their
facilities, services, and unique offerings.

Provide an opportunity for potential tourists, travel agents, and industry professionals to explore the diverse range of
accommodations available throughout the country.

Organize networking sessions and business meetings to foster partnerships and collaborations between hoteliers,
travel agencies, and other stakeholders.

 Seminar on Tour Operators and Sustainable Tourism

Conduct a seminar focused on tour operators, highlighting their role in promoting sustainable tourism practices.

Invite renowned speakers and industry experts to share insights on responsible tourism, community engagement, and
environmental conservation.Facilitate discussions and knowledge-sharing on best practices in sustainable tourism
management and the importance of collaboration among tour operators for the overall growth of the sector.

 Transport and B2B Matchmaking Meetings

Host a dedicated session on transportation, inviting representatives from airlines, car rental services, and other
transport providers to showcase their offerings.

Facilitate one-on-one business-to-business (B2B) matchmaking meetings between transport providers and travel
agents, enabling them to establish partnerships and discuss potential collaborations.

Arrange presentations and discussions on the latest transportation trends, technology integration, and sustainable
transport options within the tourism industry.