A national roundtable titled “Meaningful Tourism: Prospectives on Planning and Sustainability” was held on Tuesday, July 14, at Daffodil International University’s International Conference Hall in Birulia, Savar. The event brought together leading stakeholders from Bangladesh’s tourism sector. German tourism expert Professor Dr. Wolfgang Georg Arlt presented the keynote paper, highlighting strategies for developing the country’s tourism industry through meaningful engagement and sustainability.

The roundtable, moderated by Associate Professor Mahabub Parvez and opened by Dean Professor Dr. Mohammad Rakibul Kabir, aimed to promote the concept of “Meaningful Tourism” as a tool for ensuring both tangible benefits and emotional satisfaction for all stakeholders. Participants included representatives from TOAB, ATAB, PATA Bangladesh, Bangladesh Tourism Corporation, Novoair, InterContinental Dhaka, and The Westin Dhaka.

Speakers noted that climate change, artificial intelligence, and evolving traveler behavior are reshaping global tourism. They emphasized that Bangladesh, despite its rich culture and biodiversity, has yet to realize its full potential, attracting only 650,000 foreign tourists in 2025 who spent 440 million USD. They urged focusing on service quality and regional markets to transform challenges into opportunities.