Tk 549 crore for civil aviation, tourism

An allocation of Taka 549 crore has been made in the budget proposed for 2016-17 fiscal year for Civil Aviation and Tourism Ministry for flourishing tourism industry as well as modernization of the existing airports of the country. 

The allocation in the proposed budget is Taka 259 crore more than the revised budget of 2015-16 fiscal year, that was Taka 290 crore. The proposed budget of the fiscal 2015-16 for Civil Aviation and Tourism ministry was Taka 372 crore.

Of the total Taka 549 crore, Taka 489 crore will be spent under the Annual Development Programme (ADP) and Taka 60 crore under non-development sector.

Finance Minister Abul Maal Abdul Muhith made the announcement while placing the budget for the new financial year before the Jatiya Sangsad today.

Mentioning that the ongoing year has been selected by Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina as 'Tourism Year', the minister said "I propose to allocate Taka 100 crore initially for this purpose in this Budget."

He said the government is planning to undertake a project with view to promoting the tourism sector in the international arena, creating tourism awareness at the local level and developing tourist sites in the country. 

"We are also considering building Tourist and Entertainment Village in Cox's Bazar, an international-standard Tourism Complex and a Five-star hotel in Sylhet under Public-Private Partnership (PPP)," Muhith said. 

Considering the importance of passenger and cargo transportation in international communication, the minister said steps have been taken to develop and modernize the airports including the three international airports. 

"In addition, modernization of Cox's Bazar airport and upgradation of safety and security system in all the airports have been started," he said. 

The finance minister also mentioned that the preparatory work for construction of an international airport, namely, Bangabandhu Airport in Madaripur, Dohar or Munshiganj have started.

Source: BSS.