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Bangladesh’s tourism industry continues to lag behind its South Asian peers, with a decline reported in the business last year, apparently due to deterioration in political stability and law and order.

The situation is feared to deteriorate further, with sites of cultural heritage and events of traditional celebration being constantly targeted in attacks, often by radical Islamists, and their masterminds enjoying impunity.

In stark contrast to other South Asian countries, the contribution of the tourism industry to Bangladesh’s economy is only about three per cent.

‘Bangladesh is not considered a safe tourist destination by many nations,’ said Kamrul Hassan, who teaches tourism and hospitality at Dhaka University.

‘You could say the level of security tourists expect is largely absent. Bangladesh’s portrayal in foreign media also discourages a lot of international travelers,’ he said.

Tourism experts preferred to call Bangladesh not tourism-friendly.

Fresh areas, such as peaceful political settlements, evaded the Chittagong Hill Tracts, while Rohingya infiltration into Cox’s Bazar, the main tourist destination of the country, gave rise to a sense of insecurity.

The World Economic Forum placed Bangladesh in 109th position in its latest ranking of countries in regard to the size of their tourism industries. The ranking covered the year 2024 and was published in January.

Published every three years, Bangladesh lost 9 places on the ranking, considering its 100th position in 2021. The latest slip came following consecutive improvement in the business since 2017, when the WEF ranked Bangladesh at 125th.

Tourism businesses rebound following political unrest and the Covid-19 pandemic in Sri Lanka, the Maldives and Thailand.

‘It did not happen randomly. The countries took strong steps to revitalise their tourism business,’ said Kamrul.

According to the Bangladesh Parjatan Corporation’s latest data, while tourism accounts for around 10 percent of global GDP, its contribution to Bangladesh’s GDP remains only 3 percent.

In contrast, all of Bangladesh’s neighbors—India, Nepal, Bhutan, the Maldives and Sri Lanka—boast stronger tourism sectors. The World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC) reported that India earned 3.1 trillion Indian rupee ($ 37 billion) from tourism in 2024.

According to the Nepal Rastra Bank (NRB), tourism income rose from NPR 62.3 billion in FY 2022-23 to NPR 82.33 billion in FY 2023-24, contributing 6 percent to the country’s GDP. In 2024, Nepal welcomed nearly 1.2 million foreign tourists, compared to just around 650,000 in Bangladesh.

Even Pakistan ranked above Bangladesh at 101st position on the WEF’s latest Travel and Tourism Development Index 2024, scoring 3.41 out of 7 compared to Bangladesh’s score of 3.19.

The Pakistan Business Council estimates tourism contributes over 5 percent to its GDP, generating nearly USD 20 billion in 2024—far higher than Bangladesh’s earnings of under USD 3 billion.

The Maldives remains the most tourism-reliant economy in South Asia, with 68 percent of its GDP dependent on the sector. Over 1.5 million tourists visit the island nation annually, each spending an average of $ 2,500, according to its statistics bureau.

Sri Lanka, despite economic setbacks, managed to increase foreign tourist arrivals and income. An Asian Development Bank (ADB) report noted that India’s tourism receipts grew from $ 32.2 billion in 2023 to $ 35.02 billion in 2024. Sri Lanka’s income also rose by $ 1.01 billion year-on-year to $ 3.17 billion.

In sharp contrast, Bangladesh’s earnings from foreign tourists fell in 2024. The ADB report said the country earned $ 453 million in 2023, which dropped to $ 440 million in 2024.

Industry insiders blame lack of diversity as another major obstacle to expanding Bangladesh’s tourism business. They say that tourists often have little reason to revisit tourist destinations.

‘Bangladesh has no plan to attract tourists. The sector looks as it did decades ago,’ said Shoeb-Ur-Rahman, associate professor at Dhaka University’s Tourism and Hospitality Management Department.

He stressed the need for detailed data on tourist arrivals—both domestic and foreign—their preferences, repeat visits, and feedback, to redesign the sector.

‘We must learn why Bali or Pattaya attract repeat visitors while Cox’s Bazar does not,’ he said.

Tourists often complain of syndicates controlling every aspect of travel—from hotels to food to transport, leaving tourists with the feeling of being ripped off.

‘In Cox’s Bazar, hotel rates and food are excessively high, with almost every trader exploiting tourists,’ said Humayun Rashid, who recently visited the beach town with his family.

Labiba Habib, founder of the tour group Let’s Explore World, noted that unlike Bangladesh, where tourism is limited to hills and beaches, other countries offer diverse attractions.

‘In many destinations, tourists enjoy freedom in both urban and natural sites, while here people feel judged for what they do,’ she said.

Urban tourism is also overlooked. Cities like Delhi, Bangkok, Jakarta and Tokyo attract millions, while Dhaka lacks any major tourism plan or appeal, experts say.

‘Dhaka’s haphazard urban landscape with its infamous traffic tailbacks scares away tourists,’ said Adil Muhammed Khan, president of the Bangladesh Institute of Planners.

Political stability is another prerequisite to expand tourism, said Md Rafeuzzaman, president of the Tour Operators Association of Bangladesh (TOAB).

Bangladesh is expecting to hold its national election in February next year with political parties confronting each other or the police in violent clashes. Major city streets often get blocked by protesters without any prior announcement.

Security experts warned that the situation might not improve until well after the national election, prompting fears of the tourism business further declining in the coming days.