JS body recommends casinos, other facilities for foreign tourists

A parliamentary body today recommended setting up different facilities including dedicated casinos for foreign tourists in the country's tourist spots.

The Parliamentary Standing Committee on Public Undertakings came up with the recommendation at its meeting at Jatiya Sangsad Bhaban.

Chairman of the committee and ruling Awami League lawmaker ASM Feroz presided over the meeting.

The parliamentary watchdog in its meeting also recommended to facilitate visa and immigration procedures to attract foreign tourists and ensure their safety.

Other recommendations made by the committee are, creation of modern, attractive and well-equipped tourist facilities through a master plan by combining the sites of Hotel Shaibal, Motel Prabal and Upal in Cox's Bazar, engaging Bangladesh missions abroad to take effective initiatives to increase domestic and foreign investment in the tourism industry, and removing obstacles in the implementation of Public-Private Partnership (PPP) projects in tourism sector.

The parliamentary committee also asked the authorities concerned to stop the construction of disorderly facilities at tourism areas, specifically mentioning the tourism spot of Kuakata, and to create modern, attractive and improved facilities for tourists through a master plan.

Committee members Mostafizur Rahman, Mahbubul Alam Hanif, Mirza Azam, Muhibur Rahman Manik and Nahid Izahar Khan also attended the meeting.