Cruise tourism: A new aspiration for Bangladesh tourism industry

Abstract

Globally, Cruise tourism is recognized as one of the most vigorous and rapidly growing components of the travel and tourism industry. In the whole tourism market, the growth of the international cruise industry is significant. Despite the international economic fall, the cruise market is still developing. With a long and attractive coast, virgin and mangrove forests and beautiful islands, gorgeous ancient and ethnic heritage, maybe a magnificent destination of the tourists for cruise tourists of Bangladesh. Bangladesh's economy is now developing at a steady pace; the number of middle-class population and their possessing disposal earnings are increasing, which can be expended on travel and tourism activities. In 2017, February-March an international boat ship took a round trip through Bangladesh with about 135 foreign tourists visited the Sundarbans, the largest mangrove forest and Maheshkhali Island in Cox's Bazar that made about 35 lakh foreign revenue. Although this market is the most mature one in different countries, it is new in the aspect of Bangladesh. Therefore, the government has to address the opportunity and challenges in the cruise shipping industry seriously and has to be taken proactive measures in improving the cruise sector which can unswervingly impact the economy of Bangladesh