Without public-private partnership, this prospective sector cannot develop or grow fast, they observed.

They were speaking at a seminar on 'Development of Tourism: Role of Public and Private Sector' arranged on the sidelines of 'Dhaka Travel Mart 2005' that began on Friday at the Dhaka Sheraton Hotel. The Bangladesh Monitor, a travel fortnightly, has organised the three-day international tourism exposition.

Speaking at the function, Abdul Mannan MP, president of Pacific Asia Travel Association's Bangladesh chapter, said public and private sector must work together for the development of the tourism sector of Bangladesh.

He, however, said the government is quite reluctant to promote the sector. "The National Tourism Policy was formed 13 years ago and is yet to be updated. Moreover, the National Tourism Council, headed by the prime minister, held only one meeting in the last 13 years," he said.

But, Mannan added it is such a service sector where maximum opportunities of employment are possible against a minimum investment.

"I hope that our policy makers will understand this and come forward along with the private sector to bring a magical change in this sector," he said.

Bangladesh Parjatan Corporation (BPC) Chairman Mahbubur Rahman said despite huge potentials, the tourism sector in Bangladesh could not develop mainly due to lack of appropriate participation or support from the private sector. "The BPC can not work alone, it needs support."

"The BPC is the pioneer to boost the tourism industry in the country. May be there are problems in it, but we need to solve them and re-organise the BPC," Rahman said adding that the government has already sought assistance from international organisations such as South Asia Subregional Economic Cooperation (SASEC).

As part of the privatisation of different state-owned motels, the corporation is going to hand over some other seven motels to the private entrepreneurs soon, the BPC chairman said.

Humayun Kabir, joint secretary of Civil Aviation and Tourism ministry, emphasised a master plan to develop the sector.

He also sought more investment in the tourism sector from the private entrepreneurs.

Presenting the keynote paper on public-private partnership for the development of tourism, Raquib Siddiqi, chief editor of The Bangladesh Monitor, said tourism has become one of the fastest growing industries in the world. The world tourism witnessed some 700 million tourists with a receipt of US$500 billion in the year 2004 only.

Bikrom Pande, managing director of the Himalayan Expeditions, Nepa,l said the tourism sector got a huge boost in Nepal after the co-ordination between the public and private sector.