Bangladesh and Indonesia eye stronger tourism and aviation ties.
DHAKA, August 9, 2026 (Sunday): Indonesian Ambassador to Bangladesh Listyowati paid a courtesy call on Civil Aviation and Tourism Minister Afroza Khanam, MP, and State Minister M. Rashiduzzaman Millat, MP, at the Bangladesh Secretariat on Sunday, with discussions focusing on strengthening bilateral cooperation in aviation and tourism.
During the meeting, both sides underscored the importance of further expanding bilateral relations, particularly through increased cooperation in Bangladesh’s tourism and hospitality sectors.
Ambassador Listyowati expressed Indonesia’s keen interest in working with Bangladesh to support the development of the country’s tourism industry. She also highlighted opportunities for greater collaboration between the two countries in the sector.
Minister Afroza Khanam said the government is taking various initiatives to develop Bangladesh’s aviation and tourism sectors. She noted that Indonesia remains a popular destination among Bangladeshi tourists and stressed the importance of restoring the Visa-on-Arrival facility for ordinary Bangladeshi passport holders traveling to Indonesia.
State Minister M. Rashiduzzaman Millat said the ministry has undertaken initiatives to modernize the National Hotel and Tourism Training Institute (NHTTI) as part of efforts to strengthen Bangladesh’s tourism and hospitality workforce.
He also said the government is considering establishing a domestic Maintenance, Repair and Overhaul (MRO) facility as part of its efforts to develop Bangladesh into an aviation hub.
During the discussion, Ambassador Listyowati expressed Indonesia’s interest in signing a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with NHTTI to enhance cooperation in hospitality and tourism training.
She also assured the Bangladesh government of Indonesia’s cooperation in efforts to reinstate the Visa-on-Arrival facility for Bangladeshi passport holders.
The meeting reflects growing scope for Bangladesh-Indonesia cooperation in tourism, hospitality training, aviation services and people-to-people connectivity.
