China eyes on more Bangladeshi tourists to explore China

Beijing is keen to invite more Bangladeshi tourists to explore different destinations, including Beijing and Yunnan, to experience its rich tourism resources and vibrant culture.

“We are ready to strengthen cultural and tourism exchanges with Bangladesh, share industry development experiences and develop tourism products together for the benefit of both peoples,” said Dhaka’s Chinese embassy’s Cultural Counsellor Li Shaopeng while celebrating “China Tourism Day” in the capital.

Chinese embassy in Dhaka, the Bangladesh National Museum, and the Association of Travel Agents of Bangladesh (ATAB) jointly organized the event at the National Museum to mark the 14th China Tourism Day.

China Tourism Day has been observed on May 19 every year since 2011 to commemorate Chinese explorer and geologist Xu Xiake (1587-1641), who started his 30-year-long journey around China on the day in 1613.

The Cultural Counsellor underscored the importance of tourism in fostering mutual understanding and friendship between Bangladesh and China in line with the two countries’ close geographical and emotional ties.

He noted the Chinese government's commitment to enhancing the convenience of inbound tourism through improved services in areas such as cross-border payments, scenic spot visits, hotel accommodations, and product supply.

Over 200 representatives from the Bangladesh Tourism Board, major travel agencies, think tanks, cultural institutions, Chinese and Bangladeshi media, Chinese airlines, and Confucius Institutes in Bangladesh attended the event under this year’s theme, "Explore China, Embrace Happiness."

Bangladesh National Museum Director General Md Kamruzzaman hoped that the event would help the Bangladeshi people better appreciate the beauty of Chinese culture and tourism, thereby advancing people-to-people exchanges and friendly relations between the two countries.

ATAB president Abdus Salam Aref expressed hopes for more cooperation between the tourism authorities of both countries to promote inbound and outbound tourism, predicting an increase in Bangladeshi tourists visiting China for sightseeing, leisure, and business, thereby enhancing Sino-Bangladeshi friendship.

The event showcased China's rich tourism resources and the latest measures to facilitate inbound travel through tourism promotion, route introductions, and photo exhibitions of Beijing and Yunnan landscapes, fostering tourism cooperation and exchanges between China and Bangladesh.

In the tourism promotion segment, representatives from the offices of Air China, China Southern Airlines, and China Eastern Airlines in Dhaka gave engaging presentations.

Air China, based in Beijing, announced the upcoming launch of a Beijing-Dhaka route, leveraging its extensive domestic and international network as a Star Alliance member. Following the promotion event, teachers and volunteers from Confucius Institutes and  classrooms at Dhaka University, North South University, and Shanto-Mariam Academy of Creative Technology presented lion dances and Hanfu shows.

Over 60 photos were displayed, with stunning Beijing tourism photography showcasing the majestic Forbidden City and intricate Peking Opera performances, immersing viewers in Beijing's grandeur.

The "China Tourism Day" photo exhibition will continue until May 21 at the national museum.