The 11th edition of the Asian Tourism Fair 2024 is drawing a massive crowd of passionate travelers. Since Friday morning, the fairgrounds at Dhaka's International Convention City Bashundhara (ICCB) have been buzzing with excitement as both visitors and buyers eagerly explore the event.

Attractive discounts and exclusive gifts have led to large gatherings at various stalls, with many attendees standing in long queues to secure tickets. Both buyers and sellers are benefiting—visitors are thrilled with the deals, while vendors are delighted by the surge in sales.

As in previous years, the event is organized by Parjatan Bichitra, under the overall guidance of the Ministry of Civil Aviation and Tourism, and supported by the Bangladesh Tourism Corporation, Bangladesh Tourism Board, and Bangladesh Tourist Police.

For an entry fee of just Tk30, visitors can participate in a raffle draw with entry coupons offering exciting prizes, including travel gift vouchers and airline tickets. The fair presents an array of exciting domestic and international travel offers, along with special discounts on hotels, resorts, and package bookings.

In addition to travel deals, the event includes seminars on tourism, a children's drawing competition, business-to-business (B2B) meetings, and cultural performances from China, the Philippines, and Bangladesh, adding more depth to the experience.

Diverse Travel Deals from Local and International Sellers

The fair boasts a wide range of stalls from both local and international travel companies. Among the domestic travel groups is Tour Group BD, offering enticing packages to popular destinations such as Tanguar Haor, Saint Martin's Island, and Sajek Valley.

Md. Rafsan Zani, Managing Director of Tour Group BD, said, "We are trying to promote online tourism through the fair. Boat rentals at Tanguar Haor range from Tk60,000 to Tk160,000, and individual travel costs range from Tk4,000 to Tk12,000. We're offering a 10% discount to those who book directly at the fair."

Dhaka Dinner Cruise has also set up a stall that offers river cruises. CEO Md. Borhan Uddin said, "We offer boat tours on the Shitalakshya, Meghna, and Buriganga rivers. Many of our travel-loving people prefer to explore by river.

In addition to these tours, Lady Bird is offering women-only travel options. Ferdousi Rahman, Executive of Business Development at Lady Bird, said, "Many women in our country prefer to travel solo or in small groups but often end up joining tours with men, as most tour groups cater to mixed-gender travel. Many women don't feel safe in such groups, and so they avoid traveling. We arrange both domestic and international tours specifically for women."

In addition to these groups, the Ministry of Civil Aviation and Tourism, Bangladesh Tourism Corporation, Bangladesh Tourism Board, and several travel groups from the Maldives, China, the Philippines, Vietnam, Bhutan, and Singapore are offering discounts at the fair, and they are also receiving a great response.

BDST: 1200 HRS, SEPT 21, 2024
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