Chattogram airport to boast modern look soon, says Mahbub Ali
Three-day int’l tourism fair kicks off in Chattogram
Dhaka: The three-day long international tourism fair titled Air Astra Chittagong Travel Mart 2023, organised by the premier travel and tourism publication The Bangladesh Monitor begins on January 5 at The Peninsula Chittagong hotel in Chattogram.
Md Mahbub Ali, State Minister for Civil Aviation and Tourism, formally inaugurated the Chittagong Travel Mart (CTM) on January 5 morning as the Chief Guest.
Anjan Shekhor Das, Director, The Chittagong Chamber of Commerce and Industry; Imran Asif, Chief Executive Office, Air Astra; Kazi Wahidul Alam, Editor, The Bangladesh Monitor; and Md Kamrul Islam, General Manager, US-Bangla Airlines also attended the inaugural ceremony.
Speaking on the occasion, State Minister for Civil Aviation and Tourism Md Mahbub Ali, said, “The government is preparing a master plan to take country’s tourism to international heights while making the tourism development sustainable. The government has also taken various initiatives including the construction of three tourism parks in Chattogram.”
State Minister for MoCAT and other dignitaries visiting the stalls at Air Astra Chittagong Travel Mart 2023 – Photo: Monitor
“To attract more foreign tourists, the government is intensifying communication and coordination with the neighbouring states and international tourism organisations, developing tourism products, simplifying visa processing procedures, and carrying out creative dynamic marketing,” he added.
Anjan Shekhor Das, Director, Chittagong Chamber of Commerce and Industry, in his speech, stressed the need for better connectivity to exploit the tourism potentials of the Chattogram region.
Addressing the inaugural ceremony, Kazi Wahidul Alam, Editor, The Bangladesh Monitor, said, “Many foreign airlines are willing to operate to the Chattogram airport. However, the airport is not in a position to fulfill the requirements of the airlines. No initiative was taken in the last two decades to modernise and expand the facilities making it unsuitable for present-day aviation.”
However, the State Minister of MoCAT, in his inaugural speech, assured that the government is working on modernising and expanding the Chattogram International Airport currently and a consultant is expected to be appointed soon for this purpose.
Visitors visiting the stalls at the fair – Photo: Monitor
24 organisations including airlines, tour operators, hotels, resorts, online travel agencies, hospitals and healthcare service providers, immigration solution companies, and other travel and tourism-related service providers from home and abroad are showcasing their products and services across 30 stalls at the Chittagong Travel Mart 2023.
Participating organisations are offering exciting discounts on air tickets, tour packages, hotel rooms and other tourism products and services for visitors.
The participating organisations are: US-Bangla Airlines, Air Astra, Goldsands Hotels and Resorts, Dera Resort and Spa, Arshinagar Future Park and Resort, Probashi Palli Group, Cosmos Holiday, Your Travel Limited, Tour East Vacations, World Famous Tours And Travels, Bengal Tours and Travels Ltd, Finlay Travels, Heaven Tours and Resort Ltd, Travel Business Portal, Healthtrip Bangladesh Limited, Trabill, HB Aviation Training Center, First Trip, Triplover, Travel Champ, The Immigration Service, Lokmanya Hospital from India, Bangkok Hospital Bangladesh Office, and Bumrungrad Hospital Bangladesh Office.
An attractive raffle draw will also be held for visitors every day. Raffle prizes include return air tickets to international and domestic destinations, hotel and resort accommodation, among others.
‘Air Astra Chittagong Travel Mart 2023’ will remain open for visitors from 10:00 am to 8:00 pm every day until January 7, 2023.
The 13th edition of the fair is supported by the newest private airline of the country Air Astra as the Title Sponsor and powered by one of the leading online travel agencies Buy Tickets.
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