The World Tourism Day was observed in the country yesterday as elsewhere across the globe with the aim to create awareness about social, political and economic importance of this potential industry.
`Tourism-Celebrating Diversity' was the theme of the day, fixed by the United Nations World Tourism Organization (UNWTO), a press release of Bangladesh Parjatan Corporation (BPC) said here.
President Zillur Rahman and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina issued separate messages on the occasion.
Different government and socio-cultural organisations chalked out various programmes, including rallies, debating competition and discussions in the city and elsewhere in the country.
BPC, the only government body promoting tourism, took out a colourful rally from TSC in the city in the morning in association with Dhaka University Tourists Society.
Civil Aviation and Tourism Minister GM Quader, Tourism Secretary Hedayetullah Al-Mamun and Dhaka University Vice Chancellor Prof AAMS Arefin Siddique led the rally that paraded campus thoroughfares.
Hundreds of students as well as common people joined the rally carrying banners, placards and festoons inscribed with tourism promotional slogans.
The BPC in cooperation with Tour Operators Associations of Bangladesh also organised a seminar titled 'Role of Tourism Industry in Changing Bangladesh' at a city hotel to mark the day.
National dailies brought out supplements while radio and television channels aired special programmes highlighting significance of the day.