Tourism and Bangladesh; barely a decade back, would the two words be considered far from complimentary. Well, times have changed. Our 162 million-strong population – which, according to the CIA Factbook, is literally half of the population of the USA according to the 2014 statistics – is experiencing this economic paradigm shift where the majority continues to enjoy a rising disposable income. With that comes a growing need to spend the extra income on entertainment. And what better way to resort to entertainment than traveling, especially in a culture where people have traditionally spent most of their life in one place? Yes, Bangladeshis today are traveling like never before, and are doing so extensively – both within our borders and beyond. There are many different places and cultures for you to explore, there are already many people enjoying their own adventures through someone like this asia travel company.
Destinations Unlimited
Bangladeshis are increasingly making overseas trips, even during the shortest of holidays. And the options are plentiful. If you have a tight budget and just a few days to spare, you may be interested in a trip to India, in particular, Calcutta, Darjeeling or Assam. But if you have saved up quite a bit, then the possibilities are greater and exciting too. For a family of three, a trip to Thailand for 5 nights may cost as low as BDT 2 lacs – including traveling expenses, shopping, food, and 4-star hotel accommodation, on average. While Thai beaches offer all sorts of water-based fun activities, Bangkok is essentially the shopper’s paradise for people from all over the globe. But if you are an adventurer, India has myriads of offerings. Starting from the spectacular mountains and hair-raising trekking and camping experiences in Manali and Leh, to boating in the picturesque waters of the pristine Indian state of Kashmir, to the beaches in Goa. India has a travel package for people from all walks of life. Nepal and Bhutan trips can also be made at comparable costs – depending on the airline and the accommodation you pick. Alternatively, instead of trying to sort out accommodation and places you’ll visit while in Nepal, you could contact Nepal Tours, who will have accommodation all sorted for you, as well as a fun tour planned out for your stay. You’ll be able to experience the old temples, and for the thrill-seekers, an adrenaline-pumping time with water rafting.
Cultural Concern
However, if your travel budget is above Tk 5 lac, then Malaysia is generally the top pick. Offerings are not limited to the world’s finest hotels, paragliding, cable cars and shopping, but also exotic foods – both local and continental. One reason that makes Malaysia the most sought after travel destinations for Bangladeshis is that the Malaysian culture matches with ours in terms of our conservative values. Thus travelers – the elderly in particular, don’t have to fret about Halaal or Haraam food while they enter a restaurant; it’s not merely a concern for the conservative Muslim, even Hindus who consider themselves conservative folks refrain from pork, wine and bikinis. Malaysia essentially helps us get a glimpse of the height that 21st century civilization has climbed on to, amidst a conservative community – clearly a positive thought for predominantly conservative travelers as us.
Chasing the Unconventional
But travel for the Bangladeshi is no longer limited to South East Asia. It’s not uncommon to see younger travelers making their honeymoon trip to Europe with a Go Pro camera or a small herd of history lovers setting out for their Egypt tour with a Phantom Drone in tow. Likewise, tour operators too are putting together travel itineraries that include tourist destinations that were unheard of in our country barely a decade ago. Younger travelers also benefit from low cost Youth Hostels in cities like Melbourne, that make longer distance travel more affordable.
Experiencing New Ways
While there is a growing number of Bangladeshis preferring to spend their vacation beyond borders, a far larger crowd travel inbound. A glimpse of the Cox’s Bazaar beach can provide an idea of how dramatically travelling has become popular among Bangladeshis. And that’s not all, on a sunny day, even the resorts that were until recently unheard of – such as the Nilgiri Hill Resort – are also seen teeming with sightseers – mostly the young population, who take a 3-hour trip on a Chand-er-gari from Banderban town early in the morning, to enjoy the heavenly beauty of the place that Bangladeshi travelers have only experienced overseas, in, say Pokhara, Nepal.
Others, still a very small crowd, are opting for surfing! Yes, readers, you heard it – surfing. Well, just like cycling was an alien term in our society a couple of years ago, so is surfing, even today. But take note, we have a handful of people who are interested in surfing down in Cox’s Bazaar, or rather, the little island of Shonadia, 9 km off Cox’s Bazaar. According to Vicky Baker’s recount of her trip to Bangladesh in ‘The Guardian’, there is a trainer who trains foreigners to surf for a fee in Shonadia. Local children train for free among which there is even a group of girls in Hijab!
And if these travel developments are not intriguing enough for our little green delta, you will be surprised at how even large tour operators are cooking up the most amazing travel ideas – starting from photography trips, cycling trips, boat trips, bird watching trips, forest trips, beach trips, and what not.
To make you feel at home during your vacation, holiday resorts are sprouting up all over the country by the scores each year – with star picks such as the Grand Sultan, The Palace, Nazimgarh Resort, Dusai, Nakkhatro bari, Mermaid Café, Pechar Dweep, the Wilderness, Long Beach Hotel, to name a few – not to mention the numerous “boutique hotels”, as they call themselves – that successfully give the traveler a more homely experience, instead of the posh and formal ambience of the rather exorbitantly priced four-starred hotels.
The Essentials to Gear Up
Enough about travel ideas, but, how to get about putting together your own travel plan? For your overseas vacation, you must first seek visa for your travel destination. This is fairly simple for visas to neighboring countries like India, Nepal, Bhutan, Thailand, Malaysia, Singapore, Sri Lanka, etc. But it becomes a bit more complicated if you are aiming to visit countries farther away. A trip to the EU involving several nations may require transit visas, while certain countries may require a police clearance certificate – as in North America. So having to attend an italian visa appointment san francisco, for example, shouldn’t be put off, especially if you’re looking to make holiday plans as soon as possible.
It’s essential to manage your travel documents during the entire duration of travel – perhaps a leather flap or casing to hold the passport, boarding pass, tickets, and any other document as advised by the tour agency or the visa office.
Any travel plan that lasts for over three days ought to include certain articles such as socks, sturdy but comfortable footwear, and a comforter to toss over in case the weather cools down or the interior of your transport feels cold. For outdoors, the essentials are a pair of sunglasses, a lip gloss, an adequate supply of sunscreen lotion, a parasol or a wide-brimmed hat for the ladies who are afraid of getting a tan – not to mention a small bottle of drinking water and some munchies – like potato crackers, etc. For air travel, getting a pair of ear plugs may be helpful if you tend to suffer from air pressure fluctuation as the aircraft gains elevation.
Mind the Weather Up There!
If you are travelling outside Southeast Asia, make sure you research the climate of your travel destination well. If you are travelling to Egypt to see the pyramids in the Sahara, make sure you have the proper gear to keep yourself safe from the extreme, dusty, desert weather. While a trip to Thailand or Malaysia makes it mandatory to take an umbrella in tow along with a generous supply of high SPF sunscreen lotion, travelling to the Northern Hemisphere means you ensure that you have adequate warm clothing. Cold in the North is nothing like winter in Bangladesh. Our winters are like summer in the North. So make sure to get an idea how subzero temperatures may feel and get your winter gear ready. This includes not merely heavy winter wear, but also mittens and thick socks to save your extremities, and finally mufflers to compliment your hoodie. In addition to ensuring that you have comfortable footwear, trip to cold countries also means you ought to wear thick sneakers, thick jeans and an extra layer of inners if you feel too cold, depending on the time of the day.
Before the Take-off
Last but not least, you must not forget or lose your supply of money – whether in US Dollars or the native currency of your travel destination. The careful traveler must ensure a safe stowaway for the currency she carries – be it credit, cash, or precious jewelry. As soon as you land in a foreign country, it is a good idea to buy a prepaid cell phone card with ample data bundled up. This way, if you are travelling without an escort or a tour guide, you can still Google your way around for the best options to cater to your interests and make use of GPS to get to places.
So, put your plan together to make the best of your holiday. Bon Voyage.
Written by
Mahenoor Osman,
Freelance Researcher
