Global Journal of Management and Business Research, F: Real Estate, Event and Tourism Management, Volume 22 Issue 3

56 Global Journal of Management and Business Research Volume XXII Issue III Version I Year 2022 ( ) F © 2022 Global Journals River Tourism in Bangladesh: Present Status and Future Prospects Name of Cruise Transport Capacity River Circuits No. of Units Day Cruising Ship 100-500 seating Cox’s Bazar, Dhaka 13 Day Cruising Vessel 40-100 seating Dhaka 10 Overnight Cruising Vessel 20-70 sleeping Sundarbans, Dhaka 50 Engine Boat for short destination cruise 10-30 seating Mongla, Rangamati, Bandarban, Cox’s Bazar, Kuakata, Sylhet, Jhalokathi 1200 Speed Boat for destination transfer 6-10 seating Cox’s Bazar, Rangamati, Mongla, Dhaka 300 Source: Cruise transport in river circuits, (Helal, 2020) Figure: Different Trips in River Ways There are also some other river cruising products available. These are the ‘Dhaka Dinner Cruise’ offering on the river Shitalakhawa, Padma River Cruise, Jamuna River Cruise, Chittagong Boat Cruise offerings on the river Kornofuli, etc. VI. B enefits of R iver T ourism D evelopment in B angladesh The tourism industry offers many jobs for unemployed people. President and CEO of WTTC stated that “Travel & Tourism, which already supports one in every 10 jobs on the planet, is a dynamic engine of employment opportunity” (2018). The development of River tourism also can create extensive employment opportunities for local people. River cruise ships, restaurants, retailers, travel agents, leisure industries, airlines, and other transportation services can create a huge number of new job opportunities. It also helps to alleviate poverty. The data of Chart 01 shows that 6% of tourists strongly disagree that River Tourism creates a large number of job opportunities and income sources for local residents of River based areas.14% of tourists disagree with this statement. 10% of tourists neither agree nor disagree. 10% of tourists believe that rivers can create jobs for unemployed people. 60% of tourists strongly agree with this statement. So we can see most of the participants agree with this statement. The development of river tourism can ensure the contribution to the GDP of Bangladesh. River tourism activities are connected with different products and services (e.g. foods, entertainment equipment, recreational equipment, accommodation, transport, etc) which can directly contribute to GDP. Private investment and government funding in this sector can contribute indirectly to GDP. Strongly Disagree 6% Disagree 14% Neither Agree nor Disagree 10% Agree 10% Strongly Agree 60% Chart 01: River Tourism creates a large number of job opportunity and income sources for local residents of River based areas 6% 4% 10% 60% 20% Chart 02: Development of river tourism can ensure the economic contribution to GDP of Bangladesh . Strongly Disagree Disagree Neither Agree nor Disagree Agree Strongly Agree