By Staff Reporter
Bangladesh and Malaysia have discussed ways to further strengthen bilateral cooperation in the tourism sector, with a particular focus on increasing connectivity, simplifying visa procedures, developing skilled manpower and expanding cultural exchanges.
Bangladesh’s State Minister for Civil Aviation and Tourism, M. Rashiduzzaman Millat, held a fruitful meeting with Malaysia’s Deputy Minister of Tourism, Arts and Culture (MOTAC), YB Tuan Chiew Choon Man, in Putrajaya on August 18. Bangladesh High Commissioner to Malaysia H.E. Manjurul Karim Khan Chowdhury was also present at the meeting.
The two sides discussed a range of opportunities to deepen cooperation in tourism and create more diverse and attractive tourism experiences for visitors from both countries.
The discussions also covered strengthening bilateral relations, expanding cultural exchanges, increasing the number and frequency of flights between Bangladesh and Malaysia, enhancing skills and capacity, simplifying visa procedures and introducing pre-verification mechanisms.
The two sides also emphasized the importance of sharing knowledge, experience and successful models in tourism development.
Cooperation in training and skills development in the hospitality sector was another key issue discussed at the meeting. The participants stressed the need to enhance cooperation to help meet Malaysia’s demand for skilled and trained workers in the tourism and hospitality industries and create greater employment opportunities for qualified Bangladeshi workers.
Both sides underscored the importance of tourism development, greater people-to-people connectivity and cultural exchanges in deepening mutual understanding between the two countries.
They expressed hope that enhanced cooperation in these areas would play an important role in taking tourism and cultural relations between Bangladesh and Malaysia to a new level.
Malaysia’s Deputy Secretary-General for Tourism Mr. Chua Choon Hwa, Director of the International Promotion Division for Asia and Africa at Tourism Malaysia Madam Nuwal Fadhilah Ku Azmi, senior officials from MOTAC and Tourism Malaysia, Bangladesh Deputy High Commissioner Ms. Mosammat Shahanara Monica, and First Secretary (Commercial) of the Bangladesh High Commission Mr. Pranab Kumar Ghosh were also present at the meeting.
