Promoting Catamaran Tourism in Bangladesh: The Challenges of Blue Economy

Catamaran tourism could be one of the most profitable civil industries in Bangladesh. As one of the world’s largest resource-based industry, it accounts for the world’s Gross Domestic Product and generate huge jobs in Bangladesh. The coastal and marine tourism and its associated resources such as forestry, fishing, in Cox’s Bazar, Kutubdia, Patuakhali and Moheshkhali could be emerged as a thriving and expanding industry. These places blessed with spectacular seascapes and beaches have significant and diverse natural, cultural, indigenous and heritage impacts that are easily and regularly accessed by residents and visitors. The growing recreational fishing could be developed as part of catamaran tourism in near shore and offshore of those areas. Again, Bangladesh can develop standard and advanced cruise shipping destinations in those areas enriched with coastal and marine tourism which is the main focus of this chapter. The emerging catamaran tourism in these areas may include a range of activities such as sea kayaking, whale watching, SCUBA diving, coastal sightseeing, beach walking, surfing, and touring as well as attractions, parks, accommodation, festivals and special events that have a marine theme or tourism experience. Significant problems lie in fundamental statistical gaps detailing the magnitude of coastal and marine tourism. Since the catamaran tourism may face the environmental challenges that are widely recognized, sustainable tourism should be reinforced to promote and protect “sustaining local economies, local cultures and local environments”. As a host community, Bangladesh can utilize her physical environment and social fabric for the regeneration and future productivity of natural resources, recognize the contribution that people and communities, customs and lifestyles make to the tourism experience.