CLIMATE CHANGE AND TOURISM INDUSTRY

IN BANGLADESH
INFORMATION BRIEF

Photo: IUCN / Abdul Quayyum

KEY POINTS

• Tourism in Bangladesh is mainly based disruption to infrastructure and resulting

around nature destinations. Whilst mainly migration to and from these places.
domestic there are some foreign
participants. • As a developing sector adaptation is a
larger consideration than mitigation.
• As a result the potential impacts of However it is important to keep
climate change will be direct, through mitigation in mind especially as
destruction of the nature in and around Bangladesh attracts a large amount of
these destinations, and indirect, with the ‘eco’ tourism for which mitigation is
important.
 INTRODUCTION in 2006. This is primarily a weekend tourism market,
with travelers coming by overnight bus from Dhaka on
Since the 1990s, tourism has been a small but rapidly Thursday night and returning to Dhaka on Saturday
growing sector of the economy in Bangladesh. Still, night. An example of increase of tourism in St. Martin’s
Bangladesh is one of the countries in the South Asian Island indicates that 83,000 travelers visited in 2007 and
region with the least arrivals with the lowest revenue 123,390 in 2008. Bengali nature lovers interested in
earned from the tourism industry. Due to the potential these attractions represent roughly less than 1% of the
of fast expansion in the tourism sector, it was identified visitors to Cox’s Bazar and 5% of the visitors traveling to
as the Thrust Sector by the government. The Lonely St. Martin’s Island in 2008.1 Thus, potential of revenues
Planet Guide, world’s leading publishing travel guide from tourism alone opens up a new impetus to the
elected Bangladesh as one of the top ten interesting country’s growing economy.
travel destinations of the world in 2009.

In Bangladesh, real GDP growth for travel & tourism IMPACTS OF CLIMATE CHANGE IN TOURIST
economy is expected to be 1.7% in 2010 and to average DESTINATIONS
6.4% per annum over the coming 10 years. According to
the World Travel and Tourism Council estimate, the GDP Climate Events and Destination
contribution is 3.9% (BDT 265.9bn) in 2010. Growth trend
of tourism in current decade shows a sharp increase in It is important to determine impacts of climate change
both domestic and foreign tourists in spectacular natural through weather-climate character changes in
reserves of Cox’s Bazar, the Islands in Teknaf and identified vulnerable areas of tourist destinations. The
St.Martin, the largest mangroves of the Sundarban, the following provides a brief account for perturbations for
Chittagong Hill Tracts, and wetlands of the Sylhet district. climate events or pattern changes on important
Besides these nature reserves, many cultural and destinations in Bangladesh covering coastal and
heritage sites located across the country have been wetlands landscapes, islands, hilly areas and forests:
gradually attracting domestic and foreign tourists.
• Heavy and erratic rainfall: flooding of roads,
According to Bangladesh Parjatan Corporation, there railways, buildings, campgrounds, slips leading to
are at least 43 tourist destinations in Bangladesh with road closures, damage to bridges, damage to
natural, cultural and archeological interests. Most of walking tracks, river, lake and coastline (in unison
these destinations contain outdoor recreations on its with high tides etc.) flooding, flash floods,
natural setting, attractive to both domestic and foreign cancellation of commercial activities.
tourists. According to WTTC, Bangladesh Travel &
• Strong wind, storminess: road closures, danger
Tourism economy is ranked as:
from falling trees and debris, slips, high seas close
coastal roads, disruption to water (ferry crossing,
• 82 in absolute size worldwide;
scenic boat trips) and air transport (scheduled and
• 173 in relative contribution to national scenic flights), power outages, cancellation of
economies; commercial activities, danger for high vehicles.
• 23 in long-term (10-year) growth. • Fog: transport disruptions, commercial activity
cancellations.
Tourism in Bangladesh is primarily characterized by
• Drought and hot spells, long hot summer: closure
outdoor and nature tourism peaking during the winter
of recreation areas, damage to road and rail
months and short public holidays. In 2005-2006 infrastructure, road closures, fire risks, algae bloom in
periods, a total of 757,640 visitors travelled to different rivers, lakes and at beaches, reduced air quality from
natural reserves and national parks. Peak period, dust and smoke, water shortages, low lake and river
recorded as November-March was 76% of total visitors levels (less scenic, cancellation of activities),

1
Mukherjee, N., & Khan, M. F. (2009). Factoring Climate Change Considerations in the Design of Padma Multipurpose Bridge. Consultancy Report
Prepared by the Center for Environmental and Geographic Information Services (CEGIS). Bangladesh Bridge Authority, Dhaka.

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increases in wasps/mosquitoes, fire bans. Tourist cyclones, and storms disrupt whole business operation,
potential may well decline as some wetlands supplies of amenities and livelihoods of local
disappear, with a loss of ecological diversity and population which impose emergency disaster
game fish are replaced by other varieties. More management before service economy from tourism
generally, a decrease in lake water content, combined is given priority to rehabilitate at present in
with higher temperatures, is likely to result in higher Bangladesh. Shock for visitors and difficulty of tour
levels of near-shore pollution. Any persistent change managers to ensure security in remote and
to warmer, drier conditions with an increased risk of communication absent areas can negatively affect
forest and heathland fires may result in large areas current and future demand of tourists affecting
being closed to summer visitors. directly on profitability.

• Coastal flooding and erosion: erosion may occur in It is clear that weather can impact on all aspects of the
the absence of climate change, however, there is
tourist experience, particularly when enjoyment of
mounting evidence pointing to the relationship
experiences and tourist safety for independent
between climate change effects, (including sea level
activities are hampered. Cancellation of activities can
rise, intense storms, or coral bleaching) and beach
disrupt tourist flows in future in vulnerable areas.
erosion. These changes pose an enormous threat to
Certain aspects of tourism experiences impacted by
tourism at the coastal destinations. Shoreline tourist
climate change include the following:
facilities and accommodation, beach sports and
activities and access to beach will be hindered due
Brand Image vs. Reality of Dissonance
to climate change impacts.
• Rising sea levels: likely to have profound effects for In Bangladesh, tourism is destination-based depending
recreation along all marine shorelines. For a beach on scenic beauty, uniqueness and climate condition
backed by a sea wall, as in many resort towns, the (e.g., monsoon rain, soothing winter etc.) in contrast to
prediction is that increased erosion would lead to a other South Asian countries where leisure culture are
lowering of the beach. Depending on the supply of diverse (e.g., health resorts, shopping, tourist festivals
sand, the beach facility could be totally lost with etc.). Domestic tourist perception on tourist activities
subsequent undermining of the stability of the sea are built on nature watch, coastal walks, cruising
wall. Other coastal habitats used for recreation such amongst other socio-cultural interests. Thus, tour
as sand dunes. Shingle banks and even soft earth operators and authorities use scenic beauty as brand
hills would also be affected, as would build image which can be negatively affected because of
recreational facilities along the shore. climate change impacts and extreme events. In many
• Unseasonal weather: roads closures, trap outdoor instances, tour marketers use pristine and lush green
recreationists, rescue attempts will be difficult. Often scenes to promote destinations, such as in Cox’s Bazar,
several of these weather events can occur in unison St. Martin, Chittagong Hill Tracts and the Sundarban.
(e.g., heavy rain and wind) and severe weather
events may be very localized. There are also isolated Apprehension of tour marketers to depict threats is
freak weather events that impact on tourists e.g. that, tourism can increase overtime with essentialist
‘trampers struck by falling trees’, tornado and view (tourists only need to know the destination for its
lightning strikes, and so on. With a focus on short popular notion or by history) and embed the
holiday or weekend tourists, particularly in coastal assumption of tourists lacking access to
areas and islands of Bangladesh, tourists are quite destination-specific latest information from other
vulnerable to weather conditions, while time sources. They fail to consider current and upcoming
constraints mean that many tourists have little challenges to manage negative incidences in better
scope to change their plans because of weather ways with fear of representational dissonance
they encounter. For domestic tourists, forecast (Lowenthal, 1985) deterring tourist flows. Thus,
weather and longer term weather patterns may questions such as the following have largely remained
have more of an impact on their travel plans and unanswered: i) tourists’ subjective experiences of these
holiday experience. transformed landscapes; ii) Tourist’s reaction to
representational dissonance; iii) Perception of
• Exposure to natural disasters: total damage to restoration/rehabilitation efforts within the vacation
destination infrastructures and natural resources landscape; and iv) Ways in which changes influence
which take time to rebuild or grow back. Losses from meanings they award the landscape.
high floods, mudslides, prolonged water-logging,

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 Tourist Perception vs. Experience at Destination activities depend on a much wider range of
atmospheric conditions. Warmer winter and excessive
Further to add on lack of understanding tourist’s summer heat may result health hazards (e.g.
perception on any change in destination for climate dehydration, heat strokes) to tourists requiring more
events, their attitudes and experiences are not yet frequent and costly closures of outdoor activities. As
accounted for assessing climate change impacts on more recreation parks are being developed in remote
tourists (individual-independent to family or package areas, there will be a need for better climatic
tour visitors). information and more local weather forecasting
designed to warn of these dangers.
Tourist Satisfaction in Changing Climate
The resultant impacts of climate change on tourist
Outdoor recreation and leisure are concentrated within satisfaction rely heavily upon activities adjustments or
the appropriate ‘tourist seasons’ and key weather re-orientation in tourist spots. Wider impacts on
thresholds or combinations which are required before infrastructure that tourism providers must pay for to
most people are willing to participate in mainstream consider tourist satisfaction will impact on the taxpayer
outdoor activities. Climate-specific or weather for infrastructure repairs and rescues for which
dependent activities are also designed based on accommodation and food prices can rise. Moreover,
human comfort and convenience. Climate change to activity providers sometimes need to provide more
tourist satisfaction will require re-defining tourist equipment for tourist safety and enjoyment.
seasons where possible and necessitate alternative
recreation options to continue raising or maintaining Climate Change Risks and Impacts on Bangladesh
tourist satisfaction. Major Tourist Spots

Whilst temperature is one of the main weather The following table gives a brief on climate change risks
elements to consider, optimum conditions for many and direct and indirect impacts in some major tourist
spots in Bangladesh:

Table: Climate Change Risks and Impacts on Major Tourist Spots in Bangladesh
Places Risks Direct impacts Indirect impacts

Cox’s Bazar & Increased magnitude of costal Causality & high mortality Loss of summer tourism
Teknaf Peninsula natural disasters
Visit restriction Reduced local employments
Long and short-term coastal
inundation Loss of tourism High investment requirement
infrastructures
Loss of shorelines, land and Shift of tourist
increased salinity for SLR Damage to roads, destination/facilities
coastlines
Minimization of
development activities
High degree of safety and
efficiency requirement
Sundarban Increased frequency of cyclones, Causality & high mortality Loss of government revenues
storms of species
No alternative to this
Loss of mangrove species Lack of tourism facilities destination
for expensive regular
Coastal squeeze for increased rehabilitation costs
salinity
Increased travel costs
Increasing natural coping inside Sundarban
period
Loss of flagship species
with loss of the most
attractive tourism subject

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 Places Risks Direct impacts Indirect impacts

North-east Increased flash floods Loss of habitats for Most vulnerable are local
wetlands, haors & wetland species, fisheries livelihoods of poor wetland
birdwatching Untimely and high volume of
sediment loads and silt deposits communities
spots Change in species
changing drainage condition of composition, mainly Competing interests for
waterbodies/flows aquatic development between local
Shift to terrestrial areas from population and tourist facility
wetlands providers
Loss of net benefits in
co-managed wetlands
Mixed evergreen Increased mudslides, flash Causality & high Loss of conservation
forests & hills in floods, sedimentation for mortality of species potentials
CHT, Sylhet, North non-navigable areas
eastern hills Loss of international & Lack of investments
Reduced or extinction of domestic visitors
biodiversity Social unrests & change in
Migration of people and social security of climate
Change in landscape Droughts species migrants and indigenous
in north western hills, communities
Madhupur Loss of indigenous
cultures Shift of tourist
destination/facilities

Archeological sites Physical damage & Loss of tourists Less importance on highly
disappearance of vulnerable damaged sites for renovation
structures from floods, erosion Loss of local income
from high winds No alternative to this
Accelerated deterioration destination
of ancient sites
High degree of safety
and efficiency
requirement

Cities, towns, ports Flooding and water-logging Causality & high mortality Losses reflecting on national
and storms income
Physical damage
affecting all aspects of Restructuring and costly
mobility and services rehabilitation requirement
High degree of safety and
efficiency requirement

Islands, chars Increasing disasters in Causality & high mortality Poorer coastal communities
short-term
Land, habitat to livelihood Social unrest relating to
SLR threatening existence of distress floating population in tourist
islands spots
High degree of safety and
Sandy chars affected by efficiency requirement High investments to
drought infrastructures
Shift of tourist
destination/facilities

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 MANAGING CLIMATIC HAZARDS • Tourist operators: In many areas, tour operators are
working to develop eco-tourism and nature-based
Mitigation tourism along with the local communities. The
planning and design of these areas include
Tourism in Bangladesh is concentrated more on sustainable management and preservation of
adaptation than mitigating through achieving carbon natural resources and natural heritages. Therefore,
neutrality (carbon offset). The current low demand of air short and long-term impacts of climate change may
travel and emission, when increased in future by high be easier to adopt than areas where no precaution
tourist flows, will require attention to develop its own have been taken. However, most tour operators are
carbon offset mechanism. Although many foreign not informed about climate change impacts except
tourists these days consider carbon offsetting before for accruing losses from natural disasters in disaster
they travel to countries like Bangladesh, such prone areas. Managing tours in disaster seasons and
mechanism is yet to be adopted in the country. emergency responses will provide learning ground
to internalize damages and build adaptive
On the other hand, mitigation through increasing mechanisms.
energy efficiency and reducing use of
material-intensive products are beneficial and an • Tourist population: Adaptation option for tourist is
embedded principle of sustainable tourism- a strategy limited to choices and preferences. Nevertheless,
to develop socially and environmentally friendly their behaviour and attitude largely affect the sector.
tourism base with increasing profitability within the Opportunities of developing alternative
sector. Mitigation also serves as future savings and destinations and increasing diversity in tourism
conservation of local resource for the local population activities in less vulnerable areas are important for
and tour managers by maintain good quality tourism authority and managers. Tourist adaptation,
environment and reducing waste of resources. thus, would mean changing or being open to
inbound travel diversity and other activities when
Adaptation seasonal or weather events change original plan.

Adaptation options to tourism encompass wide range • Local government: The role of local government is
of cross-sectoral adaptation strategies as it is related to vital in managing disasters and in adapting to
country’s social, environmental and economic climate change by creating necessary provisions
sustainability. This imposes greater challenges to the and adjustments as well as in assisting tour
tourism sector and adaptation strategies to develop in operators. Existing disaster management guidelines
continuously depending on the need. Particularly for and enforcement of land use policies will be
the tourism industry the following measures have imperative in addition to expanding existing
become urgent: marketing strategies.

• Destination-based adaptation: This relates to There are some basic barriers challenging adaptation
direct impacts of climate change which primarily measures which include the following:
affect characteristics of the tourist sites, its natural
resources and physical structures. Damages from • Limited understanding about climate risks and
extreme events and consecutive adaptation entail vulnerabilities;
rehabilitation and resilient design of physical
structures such as accommodation, transport, water
• Lack of supportive policies, standards,
regulations, guidance and design;
and energy supply along. Moreover, precautionary
steps must be taken in planning and designing of • Existing regulatory restrictions and
existing and future destinations matching types of enforceability gaps;
disaster. Losses in natural landscapes and long-term • Lack of availability or restricted access to
changes will be crucial to determine future appropriate technologies;
orientation of the site and also impose a huge
challenge to determine exact changes to • Costs of identified adaptation options in
destination characteristics. For coastal landscape, limited budget;
adaptation measures related to tourism goes • Lack of tourism land use zoning and
beyond the industry as it would require hydrological management;
and ecological management.

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 • Lack of availability of resources such as self-generate revenue enough for operation and
in-house expertise; maintenance of the tour operations. The Bangladesh
Parjatan Corporation (BPC), established in 1973
• Social/cultural/financial rigidity and conflicts;
operates low-cost tourism establishments throughout
• Short-term nature of planning horizons, the country which depend on operations limited to
necessity of realising return on investment; government management of tourism infrastructure.
• Level of uncertainty.
Ministry of Tourism Policies (2009) and Strategic
Master Plan
FINANCING ADAPTATION IN THE TOURISM
Master plans are under preparation for development of
SECTOR Cox's Bazar up to Teknaf, St. Martins Island and also for
Kuakata area. Formation of Cox's Bazar Development
By Decision 1/COP13, the Bali Action Plan in 2007 had Authority and declaring Kuakata as a municipality are
set out four components of which finance constitute a under process for implementation and supervision of
fundamental element. In current climate change planned development. A time bound plan up to the year
negotiations on-going activities on finance include – 2014 and another up to 2021 are also prepared.
mechanism of channelling funds and fund flows,
institutional arrangement and responsibility Another bill is drafted to form a national tourism board
identification, cluster identification for fund allocation, on the concept of public-private sector partnership.
actors in financing, developing knowledge on possible The function of the board would be to formulate,
financing instruments and policy reform needs, coordinate, supervise and implement activities relating
implementation of environmental policy instruments to overall development of tourism.
and voluntary contribution as mitigation strategies by
the developed countries. Most of the international Revision of national Tourism Policy 1996 has become
funds to reduce climate change risks and impacts are essential given the current dynamics of the sector, its
focused on tourism-based threatened nations such as current rate of growth and new challenges. Since young
the Small Island States, tourism-service based diverse nature of the industry lays out many market
nations and nature-tourism based middle income opportunities including building resilient structures,
nations. For Bangladesh, although the loss is high in creation of access points to safe tourist activities and
terms of resources and local population, priority to re-defining institutional collaborative support along
allocate funds to aid to tourism losses is less priority in with public-private partnerships. The Master Plans
comparison to those countries. under preparation need to address climate change
adaptation and mitigation.

POLICY AND INSTITUTIONAL ARRANGEMENTS Institutional Arrangement for Tackling Climatic

Change
The National Tourism Policy (1992)
Managing climate change and its hazards in Bangladesh
The National Tourism Policy of Bangladesh (1992) is a collective effort comprising public, private sectors.
examines the importance of tourism as a means to Ministry of Civil Aviation and Tourism, and BPC require
attract foreign exchange; increase opportunity for cooperation to understand and assess climate change
budget tourism for Bangladeshis; preserving and impacts for which Ministry of Environment and Forests is
maintaining the tourism resources of the country; entrusted with. In BCCSAP 2009, monitoring impacts of
alleviate poverty, create a more favourable image of the various issues related to management of tourism in
country; open opportunity for investment; more Bangladesh and implementation of priority action plan
recreation, and fostering cultural heritage and has been included as a programme under its Research
traditions of the country. It emphasizes on and knowledge management theme.
establishments of hospitality in a way that would

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CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATIONS ardent actions on assessing, understanding and
monitoring climate change impacts on service sector
There is little doubt that climate change and climate having high national income potential are required.
variability can cause devastating consequences around Bangladesh has already adopted the principle of
sustainable tourism. The United Nations World Tourism
the world, particularly, in the Least Developing
Organization defines sustainable tourism – “tourism
Countries (LDCs) such as in Bangladesh. With existing
that meets the needs of present tourists and host
socio-economic vulnerability and poverty of the
regions while protecting and enhancing opportunity
country in an economically unstable global market, for the future.” With given problems emerging across
Bangladesh has significant task in front to manage tourism sector, climate change must be placed within
existing and upcoming challenges like climate change. the sustainable tourism development context. This can
lay foundation to support adaptation and mitigation
Global literature and reports from relevant bodies on measures within the scope of sustainable tourism
climate change have collectively asserted the need to operations in Bangladesh.
urgently understand and asses the impacts on tourism
industry by case and nation. At present, for Bangladesh,

Ministry of Environment and Forests

Government of the People’s Republic of Bangladesh

Financial Support: DFID and DANIDA

Embassy of Denmark