Travel mart concludes with 30pc higher sales

Sales at the Dhaka Travel Mart, an international tourism fair that concluded yesterday, were higher by around 30 percent this year than the previous year.  

Tour operators, hotels and airlines earned more than Tk 4 crore in revenues in the three-day exhibition organised by Bangladesh Monitor, a travel publication, at Sonargaon Hotel in the capital.

The number of visitors also increased 20 percent to around 16,000 this year compared to the previous year. 

"Many people booked tour packages as the country's political environment has improved recently," said Kazi Wahidul Alam, chairman of the Dhaka Travel Mart 2015.

Also, participating companies, especially airlines, offered more discounts this year, which boosted spot sales of tickets, he said.

Some 50 organisations from home and abroad, including national tourism agencies, airlines, tour operators and hotel and resort operators, took part in the fair.

Akhtaruz Zaman Khan Kabir, chief executive of Bangladesh Tourism Board, attended the fair's closing ceremony as the chief guest. 

A raffle draw on the fair's entry tickets picked 18 winners. Prizes include return air tickets to Cairo, Malaysia, Bangkok, Kolkata and Cox's Bazar, free tour packages and hotel accommodations.