Journal of Internet Banking and Commerce ISSN: 1204-5357
ISSN: 1204-5357
+44-175-271-2024Department of Business Administration, International Islamic University Chittagong, Chittagong, Bangladesh
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This is a qualitative research that has been done by using secondary data. The main objective of this paper is to examine the compliance of tourism principles of Bangladesh with the components of sustainable tourism that is prepared by the united nation world tourism organization (UNWTO). This paper describes that, Bangladesh has a $421.4 billion travel and tourism economy. The Bangladesh government formed the national tourism policy-2010 to attain the goal of the sustainable tourism. This paper reveals that, national tourism policy-2010 has 9 policies or principles and all of these comply the components of sustainable tourism. Finally, this paper recommends some steps to attain the goal of the sustainable tourism in Bangladesh.
Customer; Revenue; Financial; IFRS, GAAP, IAS 18
Background of the Study
People love to travel for several purposes, including trade and recreations. The current value of the world tourism economy is $7.6 trillion that is growing at the rate of 3.8% for the 2016 [1,2]. Bangladesh earned $421.4 billion from the travel and tourism economy. However, the concept of sustainable tourism was introduced in the 1970s due to the negative effects of tourism around the world. After initiating the concept of sustainable development in 1987 by The UN World Commission on Environment and Development, in 1999, the German Forum on environment and development introduced the definition of Sustainable Tourism at the UN environmental Conference in New York, USA. The stated that, sustainable tourism is the tourism that justly and socially fulfill the social, cultural, environmental and economic necessities for current and future generations [3].
However, the voices for sustainable tourism have been strengthening around the world. A large number of pro-environmental organizations are functioning around the world. The International Ecotourism Society (TIES) - a non-profit organization has been working since 1990 with 750 organizations and 15000 members in the 190 countries [4]. Besides, about 60 non-profit organizations have been working around the world to implement the concept of sustainable tourism. For instance, the Global Sustainable Tourism Council (GSTC), Global Partnership for Sustainable Tourism (GPST), The Sustainable Tourism Certification Alliance (STCA).
Consequently, this paper has been prepared as the initiative to check the compliance of the tourism principles of Bangladesh with the components of the sustainable tourism.
A Discussion of the concept of sustainable tourism: The Cambridge dictionary defined the tourism as the business that offers the services for the tourist [5]. On the other hand, the sustainable tourism is nothing but the eco-friendly tourism. UNESCO defined the sustainable tourism as the tourism that maintains the respectfulness to both local people and the tourist, cultural heritage, customs and the local environment [6]. Sustainable tourism has multi-dimensions, including cultural tourism, eco-tourism and nature-based tourism. Moreover, the International Ecotourism Society (TIES) states that, the ecotourism or sustainable tourism is nothing but the Dutiful tour to natural areas that preserves the environment and develops the welfare of native people (Figure 1) [7].
Figure 1: The Component of the Sustainable Tourism.
In addition, United Nation world tourism organization defined the sustainable tourism as the tourism that takes complete accountability of its present and future social, economic as well as ecological effects, considering the necessities of tourists, the industry, the environment and local population [8]. As well, the sustainable development goal 8.9 states that, the tourism that generates employments and stimulates as well as support the local culture and heritage-is called sustainable tourism [9]. From the above discussion, Table 1 summarizes The Components and Functions of Sustainable Tourism.
Table 1: The Components and Functions of Sustainable Tourism.
| The Components of Sustainable Tourism | Functions |
|---|---|
| Responsibility to Environment | Efficient use of environmental resources, abiding by the law of the ecology, preserve the natural heritage, biodiversity |
| Responsibility to Local communities and Heritage | Respect the socio-cultural legitimacy of local people, protect their cultural heritage, customs and traditional standards, and establish the inter-cultural thoughts and mutual forbearance. |
| Socio-economic benefits | Make sure the socioeconomic benefits to all participants (tourists + local host) through practical and long lasting economic setup and actions, by the equitable distributions of income, employment opportunities and social services |
Responsibility of an Eco-Friendly Traveler
Sustaining Tourism is an international organization that works to make responsible tourist to the tourism for the protection of the environment. It suggests some steps for being a responsible tourist Sustainable tourism (2008). These are followed:
• Be respectful to the localities, cultures, religious places and the environment.
• Avoid unnecessary waste and usage of plastic bottles.
• Moderate energy consumption.
• Save water.
• Educate yourself about the tourist spot.
• Choose sustainable seafood.
• Promote the local economy.
• May donate to local people through competent authorities, but not promote the begging economy.
• Always reject the unlawful drug or sex trade.
• Choose those companies who support Eco-friendly tourism.
The main objective of this paper is to investigate the compliance of tourism principles of Bangladesh with the components of sustainable tourism. More specifically, the aims of this paper are:
• To highlight the tourism principles and policies of Bangladesh.
• To inspect the compliance of the components of sustainable tourism in Bangladesh.
This is a qualitative research by nature that has been prepared by collecting secondary data on the issues of tourism, sustainable tourism. Besides, different books, articles, reports, brochures and newspapers have been reviewed to prepare this paper.
Several researches have been done on the sustainable tourism issues of Bangladesh. The main theme of these literatures is given below.
Jahan and Amin empirically studied the sustainable tourism on the sylhet division of Bangladesh [10]. Rahman explained the debates related to the development issues of sustainable in Bangladesh [11]. Sultana discusses the contribution of tourism in Bangladesh economy [12]. Roy and Mallika describe the current status and the future prospects of the tourism sector of Bangladesh [13]. Shakil evaluates the development of the Sustainable tourism, Cox’s Bazar, Bangladesh [14]. Iraj discusses the potentials of the Sustainable Tourism of Bangladesh [15]. Howlader raises the ethical issues of the sustainable tourism in Bangladesh [16]. Howlader discusses the functions of the World Tourism Day [17]. Hasan et al. showed a position of Bangladesh tourism by the country branding [18]. Khandakar prescribed the strategies and guidelines for the Development of Sustainable Tourism in Bangladesh [19]. Thomsen presented the Prospects of Sustainable Tourism of Bangladesh [20].
From the above discussion, it can be summarized that, the researches which are conducted on the Sustainable Tourism of Bangladesh, mainly covers the introduction, strategies and guidelines, potentials and Prospects, case studies on Sylhet and cox’s bazar, the ethical issue of sustainable Tourism and contribution of tourism, etc. However, this research paper is unique from the earlier researches because it investigates the compliance of tourism principles of Bangladesh with the components of sustainable tourism. This is the new addition to the tourism research of Bangladesh.
Examining the Compliance of Sustainable Tourism in Bangladesh
It should be mentioned that, the government of Bangladesh prepared the first national tourism policy in 1992. After 18 years, in 2010, the Bangladesh tourism corporation upgraded and reformed the tourism policy of 1992. The main objective of the Bangladesh tourism policy-2010 is to make the tourism sector as the source of national income through the development of economic infrastructure related to the tourism sectors. Besides, making master plan for the development of the tourism sector, making exclusive tourist zone, protecting the local culture, customs and heritage, attaining the goal of the sustainable tourism are also the objective of this policy.
However, Table 2 highlights the 9 policies of the national tourism policy of Bangladesh-2010 and checklist consistency with the elements of the sustainable tourism. The united nation world tourism organization (UNWTO) determined these elements [21-25].
Table 2: Compliance of the National Tourism Policy of Bangladesh 2010 with the Components of the Sustainable Tourism.
| Policy | National Tourism policy of Bangladesh 2010 | Compliance with the Element of the Sustainable Tourism |
|---|---|---|
| Policy-1 | Incorporate the national tourism under the planning and implementation of sustainable tourism | Yes, fulfill the Responsibility to Environment |
| Policy-2 | Encourage the private and expatriate investor to invest in the tourism sector individually or with the government. | Yes, preserve the Environment |
| Policy-3 | Searching for the new tourism places. Preserve and protect these places. | Yes, preserve the Environment |
| Policy-4 | Allocate the budget for the development and protection of historical places and cultural heritage. Besides, take the project under ADP to develop the railway, road and highway, air and naval routes. | Yes, practical and long lasting economic setup |
| Policy-5 | Encourage the private investor to construct and develop the economic infrastructure related to the tourism. | Yes, Employment creation, economic development, benefit for all |
| Policy-6 | Take the collective initiative to incorporate the national culture, ethnic culture and festival as the tourism events. So, the people and government ministries should promote the national song, bawl song etc. |
Yes, conserve the customs and the cultural heritage |
| Policy-7 | Diversify the tourism sector and develop the sports tourism, religious tourism, educational tourism, health tourism, adventure tourism etc. | Yes, comply the biodiversity |
| Policy-8 | Development of the ecotourism by the Ministry of environment and the other ministry. Develop the sea beaches, islands, forestries, hill areas. | Yes, improve the ecotourism |
| Policy-9 | Propagate about the natural beauties, attractiveness of national tourist spots of Bangladesh among the tourist generating countries. Also make easy the visa processing of the tourist. | Yes, promote the sustainable tourism |
From the above discussion, it can be concluded that, the National Tourism policy of Bangladesh-2010 complies the principles or components of the sustainable tourism.
At last, it can be concluded that, National Tourism policy of Bangladesh-2010 follows the principles or elements of sustainable tourism. Finally, this paper recommends the following points to achieve the target of sustainable tourism through National Tourism policy of Bangladesh-2010:
• The government of Bangladesh should facilitate and involve the local people of tourist spot to prevent the pollution.
• The Government should construct the adequate economic infrastructure in the tourist zone by the public and private initiative to ensure equal employment opportunity
• National tourism authority should educate and train the tourist guide/ security/guard about the issues of sustainable tourism, so that they can help/assist the local and foreign tourist to protect the environment, culture and heritage of the tourist spot.
• The competent authority should provide the handouts, booklets and books containing the messages of ecotourism and description of tourist spot among the tourists in their buses, airlines, ships, and railway. Tourism authority also establishes the printed and digital billboards that carry the guidelines and videos for the tourist' concern.
• The government may establish some museum on the local caste, ethnicity, customs, culture and heritage. Then tourist may be inspired to preserve the environment spontaneously.
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