Tourism Fair 2026 Concludes with an Emphasis on Leveraging Artificial Intelligence in Tourism Management
DHAKA: The 14th Bangladesh Travel and Tourism Fair (BTTF) 2026 has generated business worth around Tk 43 crore, attracting nearly 45,000 visitors over three days, as industry stakeholders highlighted the growing role of artificial intelligence (AI) in sustainable tourism management.
Organised by the Tour Operators Association of Bangladesh (TOAB), the three-day event concluded on Saturday, October 31, with a call for greater integration of technology, skilled human resources and sustainable practices to strengthen Bangladesh's tourism industry.
Biman Bangladesh Airlines and US-Bangla Airlines received significant responses in ticket sales during the fair, reflecting strong commercial interest in the aviation and tourism sectors, according to the organisers.
The closing ceremony was held at Crowne Plaza Dhaka Airport, with Civil Aviation and Tourism Minister M Rashiduzzaman Millat attending as the chief guest.
Dr Nurun Nahar Chowdhury, secretary of the Ministry of Civil Aviation and Tourism; Dr Nazneen Kawsher Chowdhury, executive chairman of the National Skills Development Authority; Md Shamimuzzaman, chairman of Bangladesh Parjatan Corporation; Barrister Mutasim Billah Faruqui, chief executive officer of Bangladesh Tourism Board; and Kaizar Sohel Ahmed, managing director and CEO of Biman Bangladesh Airlines, were among those present.
Additional Inspector General of Police GM Azizur Rahman, representatives of TOAB and local and international tourism organisations also attended.
Addressing the closing ceremony, Millat said Bangladesh had considerable potential to develop its tourism industry and that the government had undertaken initiatives to improve aviation connectivity, tourism infrastructure and human resource development.
He said a tourism master plan had been adopted to develop hotels and resorts through regulatory frameworks, technology and sustainable planning.
The government had also installed solar panels at resorts to address power shortages and arranged training for young people through the National Hotel and Tourism Training Institute (NHTTI), he added.
The minister stressed the need to expand technology-based destination management, tourist safety, waste management, environmental monitoring and emergency services.
He also highlighted the potential for introducing digital information services and smart monitoring systems at tourist destinations to improve visitor experiences and ensure responsible tourism development.
Earlier, a seminar titled 'AI for Sustainable Tourism Operation' was held at the Bangladesh-China Friendship Conference Centre (BCFCC), the main venue of the fair.
Tourism experts and academics discussed how artificial intelligence could transform tourism operations through smarter travel searches, booking management, dynamic pricing, itinerary development, hospitality services and language translation.
The speakers said AI-powered systems could also help manage overcrowding at tourist destinations, promote local businesses, reduce aviation fuel consumption and support data-driven decision-making.
They emphasised that reliable data, skilled professionals, strong technological infrastructure and effective public-private partnerships would be essential for successfully integrating AI into the tourism industry.
However, they cautioned that technological advancement should not undermine the human interaction, hospitality, warmth and cultural experiences that remain central to tourism.
The seminar was chaired by Syed Safat Uddin Ahmed, first vice-president of TOAB, while Syed Sajjat Hossain Mahmud, CEO of Swadeshi Communications, presented the keynote paper.
Dr Md Anowar Hossain Bhuiyan, associate professor at the Faculty of Business Studies of National University Bangladesh, and Mahbub Parvez, associate professor of the Department of Tourism and Hospitality Management at Daffodil International University, joined as discussants.
Akhtaruzzaman Kabir, chairman of Dhrubotara Youth Development Foundation, moderated the session.
Discussants also highlighted AI's potential to improve travel planning by analysing weather conditions, holidays, booking patterns and transportation networks.
They proposed a phased approach to AI adoption, beginning with identifying operational challenges and collecting relevant data, followed by pilot testing, cost and environmental impact assessments, and wider implementation of successful initiatives.
The discussions also focused on tourism's contribution to GDP, employment generation, skill development and the need to balance economic growth with environmental protection and social responsibility.
Representatives from 20 countries participated in the 14th edition of the fair, including Nepal, India, Singapore, Maldives, the Philippines, Turkey, the United Arab Emirates, China, Sri Lanka, Pakistan, Thailand, Brunei, Saudi Arabia, Malaysia and Azerbaijan.
Malaysia, Pakistan, the Philippines and Nepal were the partner countries, while US-Bangla Airlines served as the title sponsor.
The fair's other partners included Biman Bangladesh Airlines as airline partner, Crowne Plaza Dhaka Airport as platinum hospitality partner, Sabre as global distribution system partner, OPAS Communications Ltd as PR partner and M360ICT as technology partner.
Convoy Service, Maestro, Panorama PC Creators, Ruchi and BCFCC also supported the event as transport, digital, audio-visual and venue partners.
Held under the theme 'AI Powered Tourism, Sustainable Destination', BTTF 2026 aimed to showcase Bangladesh's tourism potential internationally while creating business opportunities, encouraging investment and strengthening connections among domestic and foreign industry stakeholders.
The discussions underscored the importance of coordinated public-private initiatives, technological innovation, workforce development and environmental conservation in building a competitive and sustainable tourism industry in Bangladesh.
