Civil Aviation and Tourism Minister M Rashiduzzaman Millat on Thursday said work is underway on a Tourism Master Plan covering 1,498 attractions of different categories across Bangladesh.

The government aims to transform the country’s scattered tourism opportunities into a well-planned, sustainable and internationally competitive industry, he said while inaugurating the 13th Asian Tourism Fair 2026 in Dhaka.

“Almost every part of Bangladesh has a story to tell,” Millat said, highlighting the Sundarbans, Cox’s Bazar sea beach, the hills and lakes of the Chattogram Hill Tracts, Sylhet’s tea gardens, rivers and wetlands, archaeological and religious heritage sites, and the hospitality of the people.

The minister said the government is also planning to develop Cox’s Bazar as a regional tourism hub. He said attracting international tourists is one of the main objectives of the newly constructed Cox’s Bazar International Airport.

The government’s new tourism policy will place strong emphasis on private investment and public-private partnerships, he said.

Under the leadership of Prime Minister Tarique Rahman, the government has placed tourism within its broader agenda for economic diversification, employment generation and balanced regional development, Millat said.

The government aims to increase tourism’s contribution to the country’s gross domestic product (GDP) from the current 2-3% to 8-9%, he added.

“The targets are ambitious, but achievable if the government, private sector and communities work together,” the minister said.

Terming tourism development both an administrative priority and a political commitment, Millat said the sector’s advancement had been incorporated into the government’s 2026 election manifesto.

He called on stakeholders to put forward innovative and cost-effective ideas for developing the sector, saying tourism cannot flourish without the joint commitment of the public and private sectors.

Millat also urged all concerned to work together to take Bangladesh’s tourism industry to global markets, assuring stakeholders of the ministry’s continued support.

More than 200 organisations from 10 countries are participating in the three-day fair, showcasing destinations, tourism products, services and investment opportunities at around 300 stalls.

The minister described the fair as a platform for friendship, business, investment, cultural exchange and regional cooperation.

Representatives of diplomatic missions, tourism industry stakeholders, development partners, investors and media professionals attended the inaugural ceremony.