International tourism fair Dhaka Travel Mart in March next year

The 17th edition of the Dhaka Travel Mart, an international tourism fair, is expected to start at Pan Pacific Sonargaon in Dhaka on March 10 next year.

It is a flagship event of the Bangladesh Monitor, a fortnightly journal dealing mainly with aviation, tourism, hotel, restaurant, cargo, shipping and lifestyle.

The journal has been organising the annual show since 2002. However, the event was not organised in 2020 because of the Covid-19 pandemic.

"Tourism worldwide has been devastated by the coronavirus pandemic. Like other countries, Bangladesh must take steps immediately to rebound from the crisis too," said Kazi Wahidul Alam, editor of The Bangladesh Monitor.

"There are now more opportunities for regional cooperation in the new normal era. And to benefit from these new potential, all concerned must make concerted efforts at this moment."

He hopes various local and international tourism organisations will take part in the upcoming edition of the show.

"Local and international tour operators as well as representatives of several national and foreign tourism bodies are participating in the fair. Through discussions, we could increase cooperation among each other and bolster the regional tourism industry."