Tour Operators Can Now Charge for Foreign Packages in Taka: BB

Bangla Press Desk:   Bangladesh Bank (BB) has allowed locally licensed tour operators to collect payments in Bangladeshi Taka from resident travelers for overseas tour packages, easing the payment process for outbound tourists.

Under a new directive issued today, eligible tour operators can collect package charges in taka for overseas travel services, including accommodation, transportation and other destination-related services.

The authorized dealers (ADs) will subsequently be able to remit the required foreign currency to overseas tour operators, hotels or destination management companies against those packages from the taka collected from customers, at prevailing exchange rates.

The facility will allow eligible tour operators to handle the taka payments domestically while settling their foreign obligations through authorized banks.

To qualify, tour operators must have membership with the Tour Operator Association of Bangladesh (TOAB) and maintain tie-up arrangements with overseas tour operators, hotels or destination management companies.

Bangladesh Bank has also fixed an annual foreign exchange remittance ceiling of US$3,000 per traveler, outside the annual travel quota, under the facility.

The limit applies to remittances made against overseas tour packages where customers have paid the package charges in taka.

The central bank has prescribed documentation requirements to ensure that taka collected from customers is used against genuine overseas travel services. 

These include invoices or contracts from overseas service providers, detailed itineraries and cost breakdowns, lists of travelers with passport numbers, agreements between local and overseas tour operators, and evidence of receipt of funds in taka from customers.

Tour operators will be required to keep transaction records against each traveler's passport number and maintain cumulative records of foreign exchange released for each traveler during a calendar year.

They must also obtain a declaration from travelers that their annual foreign exchange limit has not already been exhausted through another tour operator.Bangladesh Bank said tour operators may retain their service charges or commissions in taka. Remittances to overseas counterparts, however, must represent only the net payable amount after applicable taxes.

The facility is intended for genuine overseas travel services and cannot be used for unrelated fund transfers, advance remittances without confirmed bookings or contractual obligations, or capital-account transactions disguised as travel expenses.

Authorized dealers will scrutinize the relevant documents and establish the bona fide nature of the transaction before making the remittance. They must also report the remittances to Bangladesh Bank within seven days for post-facto checking.

The new instructions amend the existing provisions on remittances against overseas tour packages issued under Part-J of FEPD-1 Circular No. 08 dated May 7, 2026.