Assignment on

Rural Tourism Development in Bangladesh : Problems & Prospects

Prepared For

Prof. Dr. Md. Afzal Hosssain

Professor

Dept. of Tourism & Hospitality Management (EMBA)

Prepared By

Jannat Ara

ID: 71930019

Course

Fundamental of Tourism and Hospitality Department

Code: 6001

Date of Submission

04/09/2021
Abstract

The concept of rural tourism can revitalize the conventional concepts of tourism, and bring
socio-economic and environmental well-being of the rural community ensuring sustainable
development of a particular country. The aim of this paper is to identify the prospects and
problems of rural community based tourism development in Bangladesh. Rural tourism is one of
the most promising tourism sectors in Bangladesh. It can bring economic, social and
environmental benefits to the community people. Development of the rural tourism will have a
significant impact on the GDP and employment opportunities for them who are involved in its
development process.This paper finds out some barriers of rural community-based tourism
development and provides some suggestions to overcome those challenges.For the development
of this promising sector, it needs proper policy formation, infrastructure development, human
resource development, enough investment for services and facilities in the destination areas,
readiness of rural people to arrange tourism in their areas, public-private partnership, sustainable
tourism development guidelines, etc. Finally, this paper also looks into at how rural community
people of Bangladesh can be involved in the development of tourism activities in their own
areas.)

Keywords Rural Tourism; Community Involvement; Bangladesh

1. Introduction

Since the independence, the government of Bangladesh has been giving due attention on some
important sectors like agriculture, manufacturing, infrastructure, readymade garments, service
sector, etc. But tourism, as an important income generating sector, has failed to draw proper
attention of the concerned authorities in Bangladesh. Rural tourism development in Bangladesh
is not at all considered at any level, either in public or in private sector. The National Tourism
Policy of 1992 and 2010 did not also consider the rural natural beauty and landscape and the
development of tourism there.“But the development of a strong concept on rural tourism
development involving the community there is definitely useful for a country like Bangladesh.
Because, three-fourths of its population lives in rural areas. Bangladesh has huge potentials to

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flourish its rural tourism sector and contribute to community development through job creation,
empowerment of local people, production of agro-products, and protection of
environment,society, culture, etc. Bangladesh, endowed with green countryside, villages,
cannels, rivers, birds, flora & fauna, rich and diversified customs and traditions, cultures,
colorful festivals, folk arts and handicrafts as well as historical heritage, can definitely take
advantage of developing rural tourism and community. Although the concept of rural tourism
development through involving the community might be a bit of surprise to most of
Bangladeshis, still the rural manner or hospitality of rustic people hold greater appeal to
foreigners and attract them in this county. The development of tourism activities in and around
emerging locations of rural areas will ensure the community involvement for their livelihood.
Experiences, lessons and guidelines of other developed and developing countries should be taken
into consideration while developing this form of tourism in Bangladesh. “The situation requires a
lot of careful study and strategic planning as local communities are a basic element of modern
tourism development. Because they are the focal point for the supply of accommodation,
catering, information, transport, facilities and services for tourism industry. The socio-economic
and cultural aspects of rural communities and environmental aspects of the locality concerned
should be given due emphasis for rural tourism development and community involvement. By
developing proper infrastructure, making intelligent planning, building public-private
cooperation, making required investment and creating mass awareness in the country, a
revolutionary change can be made in the tourism sector of Bangladesh.

2. Objective of the Study

1.To get a conceptual idea on rural tourism and its development through community involvement
in Bangladesh.

2. To find out the impact of rural community-based tourism development on the local
community in Bangladesh.

3. To identify the barriers of rural community-based tourism

development in Bangladesh.

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4. To provide some guidelines for the development of rural tourism in Bangladesh and the
involvement of local community in tourism activities.

3. Methodology

This study is basically conceptual in nature. Qualitative analysis has been conducted based on
the relevant issues and secondary information to understand the concept of rural tourism
development through the community involvement in Bangladesh.For the purpose of analysis the
data have been collected mainly from different publications of Bangladesh Parjatan Corporation
(BPC), Bangladesh Tourism Board (BTB), Bangladesh Bank, Bangladesh Bureau of Statistics,
World Tourism Organisation, and World Travel and Tourism Council. Besides, books, journal
articles, daily newspapers, websites, etc. have also been used extensively.

4. Literature review

The available and relevant literatures on this area have been reviewed and summarized here
identified some community benefits that rural community-based tourism can bring. These
include extra job opportunities, enhanced income, diversified local economic base, added
cultural opportunities and additional tax revenues for government found both positive and
negative impacts of rural tourism on the communities in Thailand. He emphasized the
importance of sound planning like assessment of carrying capacity, development of
infrastructure, zoning, involvement of local people, and educating both local people and tourists.
Aref and Gill realized that rural tourism can help alleviate poverty in rural areas. They also
looked at how rural cooperatives can develop tourism in the rural areas explores that the growth
of rural tourism in West-Bengal of India ensures sustainable development of rural societies. He
suggested for establishing an effective framework to develop rural tourism in a responsible
manner. Chaudhry and Gupta reported that 75% of the world’s poor live in rural areas and that
rural tourism is a tool for rural revitalization. Tuhin and Majumder identified some elements like
economic, environmental, cultural, and political issues of a particular place that encourage
private enterprises to operate in tourism activities which again promote rural tourism. In
investigating the role of tourism micro-enterprises in alleviating poverty of rural Bangladesh,
Islam and Carlsen found that local people are reluctant to switch from their traditional
occupation to tourism activities. This works as an impediment to get the local community

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involved with tourism. Obonyo and Fwaya found that potential villages having natural and socio-
cultural appeal can attract the attention of both tourists and tourism planners. The study
suggested integrating tourism with rural development strategies to ensure maximum benefits for
the community.Chiutsi in his paper showed that a higher level of community based tourism
entrepreneurship leads to greater socio-economic benefits for majority of residents leading to
biodiversity conservation and sustainable tourism development. Michael, Mgonja and Backman
examined the nature of community participation in decision-making process for tourism
development and found it to be a guaranteed determinant in ensuring the benefits for lifestyles,
values and respects of communities. Zhang el al summarized the pros and cons of rural tourism
development. They suggested for avoiding or minimizing the adverse impacts of tourism,
mitigating the conflicts between resources and development options,finding a balance between
tourism development and rural construction, and realizing a win-win tourism development for
rural construction. Ahmed and Jahan identified that rural tourism benefits the rural communities
socially, economically, and environmentally in a sustainable way. This study highlighted the
prospects of rural tourism development in rustic Bengal. Jaafar, Bakri and Rasoolimanesh
explored how the local community perceives their involvement in local tourism development and
increases its economic viability, and stimulate their social regeneration and living conditions.

5. Analysis of Findings

5.1. the Concept of Rural Community Based Tourism:

Rural tourism means tourism taking place in the countryside. It represents the life, art, culture,
nature, environment, historical places and heritage at rural places. It also means,agro-
tourism,soft-tourism solidarity-tourism and even eco-tourism. It focuses agriculture and farms as
the foundation upon which the attraction is built. The main theme of this tourism includes the
uses of land in the countryside and culture of rural people. It creates an interaction between
human being and the land of rural areas. It also includes cultural and heritage tourism, nature
tourism and adventure tourism.
Rural community-based tourism means small scale tourism in rural areas, where the local

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community controls the operation and development of tourism activities. The community decides
what they are willing to contribute and what they are not willing.

The goals and vision of tourism development are set in community meetings.For achieving the
goals of improving the lives of communities through tourism initiatives, academic literature on
sustainable tourism development has identified the need for community involvement in the
planning and decision making process.

5.2. Significance of Rural Tourism:

Rural tourism is a new concept benefitting the local community. It can benefit rural communities
socially, economically, culturally and environmentally in a sustainable way. It provides income
and employment for the community and enhances their socio-economic dignity. Rural tourism is
a viable means of promoting economic activity in both developed and developing countries. It
also prevents local people to migrate to cities in search of employment. Rural young people leave
villages and go to urban areas to find work for their livelihood. Very few of them come back to
their villages. This triggers an increasing focus on rural community-based tourism by policy
planners and communities as an alternative means of employment. It also enhances the
environmental conditions of communities, because it focuses on sustainable tourism
development.Rural tourism benefits local communities through stimulating economic growth,
valuing cultural heritage and raising their standard of living. These again encourage positive
attitudes and behaviors of communities towards rural tourism development.Rural community-
based tourism can benefit greatly from a targeted and integrated rural development program.
Rural tourism provides a befitting context to appraise and address development challenges
specific to developing countries.This type of tourism is attractive to investors, as it requires little
capital and uses the existing unique local resources. As such, rural tourism enjoys substantial
encouragement from both the public and private sectors.Community involvement ensures
community ownership, livelihood security, minimal leakages, conflict resolution and improved
conservation. This is particularly true for developing countries where financial resources and
expertise required may not be available at lower administrative levels.

5.3. State of Rural Community-Based Tourism Development:

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Rural tourism has drawn attention in recent time of many under developed countries. But the
development of rural tourism in Bangladesh is still in a take off stage which could be developed
in a sustainable way involving the community.

Kerala (India) has implemented a project named United Nations Development Programme (GOI-
UNDP) Endogenous Tourism Project (ETP), which spreads across 36 villages in India and
focuses on the rural tourism experience, with thematic priorities that include human
development, gender equality, strengthening decentralization, urban and rural livelihoods, energy
and environment and vulnerability reduction.

Due to flourishing readymade garment sector in Bangladesh, a large portion of rural people have
moved to urban areas for their livelihood. This has resulted in an imbalance in the development
between rural and urban areas. As such, an additional source of income generation for the rural
areas has become necessary. Rural community-based tourism can play an important position in
this connection. But this has been overlooked by the concerned authorities in our country.

5.4. Rural Tourism Development Impacts and Community development:

Rural tourism has certain typical attributes like: it is based on experience, the locations are
sparsely populated, it is predominantly in the natural setting, it meshes with seasonality and local

events and it is based on preservation of culture, heritage, nature, environment, society,

community and traditions. It acts as an important force for developing rural areas. Having very
little options

for development, communities may evaluate rural tourism a great path for growth.

Rural tourism has important impacts on different areas like economy, society, politics, culture
and environment in the rural areas.

All these elements are interrelated for the development of community. Like other tourism
activities, rural tourism results in a full

range of environmental impacts. The figure below shows that community is the main point in the
rural tourism development process though community involvement. Through rural tourism

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development everyone in the locality like local people, community, tourists, government, tour
operators, stake holders are benefited

directly or indirectly. Figure below represents the contributions of tourism in community.

Rural tourism alone is not a force to develop the countryside. It depends on the community,
political wills of the government,socio-economic conditions of the country and environmental
factors. Thus, a complex relationship exists among the community and other components of
tourism activities. The earlier figure

shows how rural tourism and the community are related with different socio-economic and
cultural issues.

5.5. Rural Community-Based Tourism DevelopmentIn Bangladesh :

The involvement of Bangladesh community people in tourism

activities is not significant. Because the involvement of the community people of Bangladesh is
considered to be the most effective system for the development of rural Agriculture. But the rural
tourism could be considered an economic alternative for rural areas facing decreasing
agricultural profits and requiring a second or third economic footing. Rural tourism development
in Bangladesh doesn’t have a long history because of insufficient infrastructure, poor
transportation system, lack of governments initiatives and political unrest. Bangladesh definitely
has the great opportunity for the development of rural and ecotourism tourism where community
might be benefited. Evergreen nature,landscapes, thousands-years-old cultural and architectural
heritages, hundreds of haors, baors, rivers and canals, delicious cuisine, inborn hospitality of
rural people and their simplicity have made Bangladesh a unique destination. Besides, the flora-
fauna, chirping-birds, rivers, closeness to the urban centers as well as the authentic character and
rural charms are also important elements for the development of rural tourism in Bangladesh.
But Bangladesh is not yet ready to welcome rural tourists. The development process of rural
tourism around the heritage/archeological sites, improvement of rural infrastructure, creation of
accessibility, establishment of standard accommodation and building of rural capacity for
tourism development are not yet undertaken. Besides, the undefined role of the rural
cooperatives in this industry, socio-cultural and political barriers, and absence of

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human/economic resources, and the lack of government commitment are also responsible for not
developing rural tourism in Bangladesh.

5.6. Barriers of Rural Tourism Development:

Bangladesh faces several barriers to the development of rural tourism. Following are the main
barriers of rural tourism development in Bangladesh:

1. The rural community people are not still ready to involve themselves in tourism activities of
their areas.

2. Inability of the community for the development of rural tourism.

3. Lack of research and guidelines for rural tourism development.

4. Lack of investment and entrepreneurial ability to participate in rural tourism.

5. Resource constraints for the development of rural tourism and community.

6. Lack of safety and security in the rural areas.

7. Poor country image due to political turmoil, corruption and terrorism.

8. Underdeveloped infrastructure and connectivity with the rural destinations. Rushell and Eagles
again identified some more barriers to the development of rural tourism. Some of these are
common in Bangladesh.

1. Lack of formal education and appropriate managerial training of local people.

2. Lack of foreign language skills

3. Dealing with hygienic food and water, litter and maintenance of infrastructure.

4. Limited knowledge of food preparation and services for foreigners.

5. Absence of planning skills for the development of and lack of ability to control tourism,
unpredictable political climates, and uncertainty of long-term funding.

6. Recommendations for Improvements

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The concept of rural tourism in Bangladesh is new. But it has huge potentials to draw the
attention of policy makers. Understanding the barriers will help the community, stake holders
and others in
making proper policies in this regard. This will also help them overcome the barriers and thus
develop rural community-based tourism in Bangladesh. It is, of course, challenging for the
government and communities to tackle those obstacles and thus involve communities in the
development process of tourism in rural areas. As such, the concerned authority of the country
should take necessary initiatives to identify the barriers and take steps to tackle the barriers.

1. To make foreigners stay interesting and worth spending of their money.

2. Sanitation and hygienic food and water should be ensured for tourists.

3. Electricity, telephone and wayside amenities should be provided.

4. Sufficient training has to be given to the employees, executives and local people in order to
offer standard services.

5. Languages training courses like English, French, German, and Chinese should be conducted to
develop communication skills among employees.

6. Improved transport to be provided to make the destinations easily accessible.

7. Local culture and natural heritage sites should be presented intelligently to provide tourists
memorable experience.

8. Historical and archaeological sites, ancient buildings and monuments and the sights of natural
importance should be conserved and protected from physical deterioration.

9. Security measures should be strengthened to ensure safe and risk-free movements of the local
and foreign tourists in rural areas.

10. Tourism fairs should be arranged focusing on the unspoiled natural beauty, village charms
and rural landscape of Bangladesh.

7. Conclusion

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The concept of rural community-based tourism development is still to conceive by Bangladesh.
The country is filled with thousands of villages with their unique beauties and charms. Though it
has a lot of opportunities to flourish, rural tourism in Bangladesh is in a take off stage and has
been growing at a very slow pace.Bangladesh has many opportunities to develop its rural tourism
because she has a unique features, sights, and charms that the universe is yet to explore and
experience.

References

[1] Ahmed I, Jahan N. Rural Tourism-Prospects in Rustic Bengal.

European Journal of Business and Management, ISSN. 2013:22221905.

[2] Godfrey K, Clarke J. The tourism development handbook: a

practical approach to planning and marketing: Burns & Oates; 2000.

[3] Afroz N, Hasanuzzaman M. Problems and Prospects of Tourism in Bangladesh: Bandarban

District Case. Global Journal of Management and Business Research. 2012;12(23):1-9.

[4] Weaver G. Tourism development: a potential for economic growth. 1986.

[5] Rattanasuwongchai N. Rural Tourism-the impact on rural

communities II. Thailand [Electronic Version] Retrieved December. 1998;7:2009.

[6] Aref F, Gill SS. Rural tourism development through rural

cooperatives. Nature and Science. 2009;7(10):68-73

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