"We fail to attract significant numbers of tourists despite having all the potential needed, such as natural beauty. This is due to the image crisis of the country and political instability," Hasan Mansur, president of Tour Operators Association of Bangladesh (TOAB) told a press briefing at a city hotel.

Toab said it has no official figures for the number of foreign tourists, but Hasan Mansur expressed doubts over government figures that claimed more than two lakh had visited Bangladesh last year.

Toab will arrange a three-day tourism fair from September 6, 2007 at the Bangladesh China Friendship Convention Center in Dhaka to woo international tourists as well as local ones.

It will also help outbound tourists to learn more about destinations they can visit safely as tourists, Mansur said.

He said Toab is expecting around 50 participants representing tour operators, travel agents, hotels, airlines, resorts, land transport operators, theme parks and bank and insurance companies.

The organisers will visit Kathmundu, Kolkata, Delhi and Bangkok to promote the fair among the potential participants. The organisers are expecting around 30 overseas participants mainly from neighbouring countries.

The organisers are seeking assistance from airline companies as well as Bangladesh's missions abroad to create interest among foreign participants.

Trevor MacDonald, general manager, Dhaka Sheraton Hotel, Salina Momen, general manager, Pan Pacific Sonargaon, San Amalan, general manager, Westin Dhaka, Ian R. Barron, general manager, Radisson Water Garden, Abdullah Al Hasan, general manager marketing, Biman, Quazi Shahriar, general manager, GMG Airlines, MA Mohaimen Saleh, president, Travel Agents Association of Bangladesh, Hakim Ali, managing director, Hotel Agrabad also attended the press conference.

The fair will remain open for all from 10 am to 8 pm with a minimum entry fee.

The Daily Star, Prothom Alo and Channel i are the media partners of the fair.