Survey conducted to ensure sustainable tourism development

Bangla Press Desk:  The country's statistical agency, Bangladesh Bureau of Statistics, is conducting a nationwide survey programme to quantify the economic contribution of tourism, as the authorities aim to build a more comprehensive statistical base for policymaking, investment and sustainable development of the sector.

BBS, in collaboration with the Bangladesh Tourism Board, is conducting domestic, outbound and inbound tourism surveys under a programme with a view to developing a Tourism Satellite Account (TSA) for 2026-27.

A satellite account is a supplementary statistical framework that links to core national accounts to focus on a specific sector.

The exercise is designed to measure tourist expenditure, travel patterns and the consumption of tourism-related goods and services, while producing statistics that are comparable with international standards.

The data collection will run quarterly throughout the 2026-27  financial year, covering July-September, October-December, January-March and April-June.The country's statistical agency, Bangladesh Bureau of Statistics, is conducting a nationwide survey programme to quantify the economic contribution of tourism, as the authorities aim to build a more comprehensive statistical base for policymaking, investment and sustainable development of the sector.

BBS, in collaboration with the Bangladesh Tourism Board, is conducting domestic, outbound and inbound tourism surveys under a programme with a view to developing a Tourism Satellite Account (TSA) for 2026-27.

A satellite account is a supplementary statistical framework that links to core national accounts to focus on a specific sector.

The exercise is designed to measure tourist expenditure, travel patterns and the consumption of tourism-related goods and services, while producing statistics that are comparable with international standards.

The data collection will run quarterly throughout the 2026-27  financial year, covering July-September, October-December, January-March and April-June.

The surveys will cover residents travelling within Bangladesh, Bangladeshi nationals travelling abroad, and foreign nationals and non-resident Bangladeshis visiting the country through airports, land ports and seaports.

The programme will also capture visitors travelling for leisure, business, medical treatment, education, religious purposes and visits to friends and relatives.

Transit passengers and crew members who do not pass through immigration will, however, be excluded.

A key objective is to estimate Tourism Direct Gross Value Added (TDGVA) and determine tourism's contribution to gross domestic product - measures that could provide policymakers with a clearer assessment of the sector's economic footprint.

The initiative is also expected to generate data on employment, travel expenditure and tourism-related activities, helping government agencies and businesses assess demand and identify areas for investment.

The BBS said the resulting database would provide evidence for tourism planning, policymaking and investment decisions, while supporting the measurement of tourism-related Sustainable Development Goal indicators.

The authorities also plan to establish an integrated national tourism information system that can be used by government agencies, policymakers, private-sector companies, researchers, academics and development partners.

People familiar with the development at the BBS told the FE that the exercise could fill an important gap in economic statistics by bringing together activities across accommodation, transport, recreation and other tourism-related industries.

The quarterly survey is expected to provide a continuing flow of data rather than a one-off assessment, allowing policymakers to track changes in domestic and international travel and their economic effects over time.

Bangladesh has identified some 1,498 tourists spots across the country under the draft national tourism plan.

But the Cox's Bazar, the Sundarbans, Srimongal, Jaflong, Sajek Valley, Rangamati, St. Martin's island, Paharpur Buddist Monastery, and Mosque city of Bagerthat are key tourist attractions.

The country's statistical agency, Bangladesh Bureau of Statistics, is conducting a nationwide survey programme to quantify the economic contribution of tourism, as the authorities aim to build a more comprehensive statistical base for policymaking, investment and sustainable development of the sector.

BBS, in collaboration with the Bangladesh Tourism Board, is conducting domestic, outbound and inbound tourism surveys under a programme with a view to developing a Tourism Satellite Account (TSA) for 2026-27.

A satellite account is a supplementary statistical framework that links to core national accounts to focus on a specific sector.

The exercise is designed to measure tourist expenditure, travel patterns and the consumption of tourism-related goods and services, while producing statistics that are comparable with international standards.

The data collection will run quarterly throughout the 2026-27  financial year, covering July-September, October-December, January-March and April-June.

The surveys will cover residents travelling within Bangladesh, Bangladeshi nationals travelling abroad, and foreign nationals and non-resident Bangladeshis visiting the country through airports, land ports and seaports.

The programme will also capture visitors travelling for leisure, business, medical treatment, education, religious purposes and visits to friends and relatives.

Transit passengers and crew members who do not pass through immigration will, however, be excluded.

A key objective is to estimate Tourism Direct Gross Value Added (TDGVA) and determine tourism's contribution to gross domestic product - measures that could provide policymakers with a clearer assessment of the sector's economic footprint.
The initiative is also expected to generate data on employment, travel expenditure and tourism-related activities, helping government agencies and businesses assess demand and identify areas for investment.

The BBS said the resulting database would provide evidence for tourism planning, policymaking and investment decisions, while supporting the measurement of tourism-related Sustainable Development Goal indicators.

The authorities also plan to establish an integrated national tourism information system that can be used by government agencies, policymakers, private-sector companies, researchers, academics and development partners.

People familiar with the development at the BBS told the FE that the exercise could fill an important gap in economic statistics by bringing together activities across accommodation, transport, recreation and other tourism-related industries.

The quarterly survey is expected to provide a continuing flow of data rather than a one-off assessment, allowing policymakers to track changes in domestic and international travel and their economic effects over time.

Bangladesh has identified some 1,498 tourists spots across the country under the draft national tourism plan.

But the Cox's Bazar, the Sundarbans, Srimongal, Jaflong, Sajek Valley, Rangamati, St. Martin's island, Paharpur Buddist Monastery, and Mosque city of Bagerthat are key tourist attractions.