LocationsFrom Data to Destination: Sustainable Tourism in Bangladesh Powered by Artificial Intelligence
Data System Thinking: How Close is Bangladesh to Drive Sustainable Tourism with Data Innovation and AI?
November 28, 2024
Photo 1: A Glimpse into Nature's Paradise: Majestic Spotted Deer of the Sundarbans (UNESCO World Heritage Site, 1987; source: pixabay.com)
By Ramiz Uddin, PhD, Head of Experimentation, UNDP Accelerator Lab Bangladesh; Md. Mazharul Islam, Deputy Director (Research & Planning), Bangladesh Tourism Board; Shanjida Khan Shorna, Innovation and Partnership Coordinator, UNDP Accelerator Lab Bangladesh; Ahammad Ullah Kabir, Data Analytics Officer, UNDP Accelerator Lab Bangladesh; Shanta Islam, Department of Environmental Sciences, Jahangirnagar University
Bangladesh- a country with rich cultural heritage, stunning natural landscapes, the world's longest natural sea beach at Cox's Bazar, and the long greenery of the Sundarbans- makes it a promising destination for tourists worldwide. In 2023, over 30 million domestic and 655,000 foreign tourists vacationed in Bangladesh, marking the country's immense potential to become a ‘Tourism Hotspot’ of Southeast Asia. With multiple new avenues and discoveries in adventure tourism, Bangladesh can substantially benefit from building a comprehensive approach to sustainable tourism.
Despite such affluent prospects, a lack of proper coordination across all stakeholders and a unified data ecosystem has hindered the sector's growth. The Travel & Tourism Development Index 2024, a flagship index of the World Economic Forum, ranks Bangladesh at the lowest position in South Asia in factors and policies that enable the sustainable and resilient development of the Travel and tourism (T&T) sector within a country.
Figure 1: Bangladesh's ranking in the Global Travel and Tourism Development Index 2024
Bangladesh Tourism Master Plan (2024-2041)
To strategically position the country as a sustainable and inclusive global tourism destination, leveraging its cultural heritage, natural resources, and emerging technological innovations, the Bangladesh Tourism Board (BTB) developed a 25-year Tourism Master Plan for the country. The unavailability of data in this promising sector (such as sustainable tourism, Community-Based Tourism (CBT), security arrangements, the role of tourist police, and visitor expectations) became more evident at that point, resulting in collaboration between BTB and UNDP Bangladesh Accelerator Lab. This collaboration aspired to determine the time-convenient process to serve a detailed roadmap to rejuvenate Bangladesh's tourism sector, aiming to position the country as a premier tourist destination by 2041 by understanding the needs of tourists and developing policy based on data insights.
Exploring Data Innovation and AI: A Catalyst for Sustainable Tourism
Bangladesh, along with the globe, stands poised in the era of Artificial Intelligence to harness data-driven policymaking, enhancing informed decisions powered by data innovation and AI, which will help to preserve cultural heritage and promote inclusivity, significantly contributing to ensure SDGs (SDG 8- Decent Work and Economic Growth and SDG 12- Responsible Consumption and Production) in a broader level while strengthening its position as an emerging global tourist hub.
Undoubtedly, sustainable tourism can drive economic growth by creating quality jobs, generating revenue, and fostering local entrepreneurship. This financial impact is crucial for countries transitioning to more inclusive and resilient economies. Leveraging data and AI, countries can optimize tourism strategies to maximize the benefits while minimizing negative impacts on biodiversity and local communities.
Realizing the facts, UNDP Bangladesh Accelerator Lab responded by designing a holistic survey to map tourist preferences and generate actionable insights accordingly. In mid-2023, the Lab embarked on efforts to leverage data and partnerships for tourism sector development in Bangladesh despite limited information on sustainable tourism, Community-Based Tourism (CBT), security arrangements, tourist policing, and visitor expectations. This marked a significant step toward a holistic, evidence-based strategy for establishing sustainable tourism—a recommended approach at the time, now being brought to fruition
A Comprehensive Approach by UNDP Bangladesh Accelerator Lab
At the beginning of November 2024, the Lab took a proactive approach to explore data-driven decision-making in Bangladesh's tourism industry, focusing on developing an integrated tourism dashboard, GIS-based tourism planning, and sustainable marketing strategies. Consequently, a series of workshops have been planned to identify and resolve data barriers, assess current data sources, clarify stakeholder roles, and outline actionable strategies for implementing data innovations in sustainable tourism. Moreover, the workshops are designed to catalyze data mapping and drive progress toward the goal. It would optimize infrastructure planning, marketing, and resource allocation while enabling better policymaking, boosting investment, fostering collaboration, and exploring and promoting diverse tourism types to increase youth employment and economic opportunities.
1st Workshop on Next-Gen Tourism: Leveraging Data for Sustainable Growth in Bangladesh
The first workshop, 'Next-Gen Tourism: Leveraging Data for Sustainable Growth in Bangladesh,' emphasized data-driven strategies to enhance tourism's sustainability, competitiveness, and resilience. It highlighted tools like GIS and real-time monitoring for ecosystem preservation and minimizing environmental impact while addressing challenges in data infrastructure and coordination for implementing the Bangladesh Tourism Master Plan (2024–2041).
2nd Workshop on Tourism Data Mapping for Sustainable Growth in Bangladesh
The second workshop, "Tourism Data Mapping for Sustainable Growth in Bangladesh," focused on collaboration and developing actionable strategies for overcoming these challenges, with an emphasis on sustainability, AI-based modern technologies, and inclusive economic growth.
Key insights from the Expert's presentation revealed how Data Governance in the Tourism Sector can ensure sustainability, therefore the need for an inclusive national data governance framework and clear guidelines. Both sessions brought together stakeholders from government bodies, the private sector, academia, and civil society organizations to explore how data innovation can support sustainable tourism.
Approximately 5 million people are engaged in Bangladesh's tourism sector, with an additional 2 million expected to join by 2030. The Accelerator Lab recognizes this as a significant opportunity to address unemployment by creating jobs and promoting sustainable tourism. This initiative is expected to contribute to economic growth by enhancing the GDP and the country's tourism rankings.
Insightful workshops presented several observations and recommendations from the participants through open discussions and group presentations.
Actionable Recommendations for Data Innovation in Bangladesh Tourism Sector
To drive sustainable growth in the tourism sector, a comprehensive, AI-driven national dashboard should be developed and adopted as the central governance and decision-making tool. This requires a holistic approach encompassing policy advocacy, technological innovation, and capacity development:
Policy Advocacy and Institutional Framework: Establishing a government-owned committee to oversee the dashboard's implementation, ensuring streamlined governance, resource allocation, and stakeholder engagement, with a focus on increasing public-private partnerships.
Technological Integration: Conducting a thorough need assessment to prioritize quick-win areas and evaluate the sector's current status and readiness for the technological advancements. Based on the assessment report, integrated AI-based solutions, including a national tourist database, Tourism Satellite Accounts, and statistical visualization tools can be developed. Furthermore, incorporating GIS, remote sensing, and data mining from diverse sources like blog articles, social media to ensure real-time insights and ensuring transparency across stakeholders.
Capacity Building and Sustainability: Designing and executing tailored capacity-building programs for both short-term (6-12 months) and long-term (2-5 years) objectives aligned with the Tourism Master Plan and need assessment outcomes to equip stakeholders with the skills needed to operate and enrich the dashboard. To promote its adoption through advocacy, training, and continuous feedback loops, ensuring alignment with the Tourism Master Plan and readiness for future advancements.
This unified strategy will position the dashboard as a cornerstone of smart governance, enabling data-driven decision-making and fostering collaboration across all levels of the tourism sector.
Looking Ahead
Developing an AI-Driven National Dashboard for Tourism
Data Innovation and AI-Driven Sustainable Tourism Industry in Bangladesh
Developing a national dashboard for the Bangladesh Tourism Board will serve as a unified platform to enhance collaboration, streamline data sharing, and adopt data-driven approaches for sustainable tourism. We are planning to approach further series of workshop to develop a robust, AI-driven dashboard for Bangladesh Tourism Board that will act as the backbone of smart governance, enabling real-time decision-making and fostering equitable economic growth and environmental conservation. A central repository for tourism statistics provides reliable data access to stakeholders, including government entities, policymakers, and tourism operators, facilitating tailored services and informed strategies.
AI as a Game-changer
AI-powered innovations such as- predictive models and real-monitoring systems can manage visitor flow and ensure environmental compliances in sensitive areas like- the Sundarbans and Saint Martin's Island. AI can also personalize tourism experiences by analyzing preferences of tourists, thus enhancing satisfaction. A robust data ecosystem empowers businesses to make informed decisions, driving economic opportunities and visible growth in the tourism sector.
This initiative will serve as a model for delivering exceptional services through data-driven decision-making, inspiring confidence, and setting a benchmark for innovation in the tourism industry.
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