Discounts for hotels, tours draw Friday crowd at Asian Tourism Fair

The 10th edition of the Asian Tourism Fair (ATF), currently taking place in the capital, witnessed a huge crowd on Friday, marking the second day of this exhibition.

The three-day event, which commenced on Thursday, is scheduled to end on Saturday. 

Visitors flocked to explore different stalls showcasing captivating travel destinations, offering unique experiences, and presenting special travel packages, discounts, and other enticing offers.

Numerous attendees took advantage of the discount offers, securing their accommodations in hotels and resorts, and booking exciting tour plans offered by participating companies. 

Visitors can also enjoy cultural events of foreign countries every afternoon at the fair venue.

Touhidul Islam, the manager of Alibaba Theme Park, expressed his thoughts on the event's success, stating that while there was a modest turnout on Thursday, the crowd on Friday was significantly larger. 

When asked about the response, he explained that their primary goal at the fair was not direct sales but rather marketing and networking with attendees, which has come up as successful.

Md Faysal Mahmood, manager of Sea Pearl Beach Resort and Spa, also noted the substantial turnout on Friday, especially due to it being a holiday.

He reported a positive response, with around 60 guests reserving rooms at a discounted rate at their Cox's Bazar hotel.

One visitor, Rashida Akter, shared her excitement, stating, "My husband and I have come here to explore offers for a trip to Rangamati. With numerous tour operators in attendance, we are currently roaming and engaging with them to make our selection."

Convener of Bangladesh Tourism Development Summit 2023 Mohiuddin Helal said as the biggest travel fair in Bangladesh, ATF provides a comprehensive overview of the tourism landscape. From bustling metropolises to serene beaches, from historical sites to modern attractions – every facet of travel is represented in the fair, allowing visitors to plan their dream getaways all in one place as the fair is open for the public. 

He said, "ATF is an annual event and this year it brings 150 tourism based organisations from 10 countries together with National Tourism Organisations (NTOs), travel agents, tour operators, Destination Management Companies (DMCs), airlines, cruise companies, attractions, embassies, and top travel associations in Bangladesh under one roof." 

Mohiuddin Helal added, "The fair boosts participation from tourism stakeholders from multiple countries, including Bangladesh, India, China, Nepal, Thailand, Sri Lanka, Vietnam, and Dubai, among others, emphasising its regional reach and influence."

The fair, with the theme "Connecting regional tourism," highlighted the importance of forging connections and alliances across borders to boost tourism, exchange cultural experiences, and promote economic growth. 

Along with the fair, seminars were also held on five different subjects including investment opportunities in tourism, emerging trends of smart tourism, responsible initiatives for the sustainability of future tourism, future skilled jobs, and entrepreneurship in tourism.