Sustainable Development Goals (SDG)

The 2018 Agenda for Sustainable Development, adopted by all United Nations members
in 2015, created 17 world Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). They were created
with the aim of "peace and prosperity for people and the planet, while tackling climate
change and working to preserve oceans and forests. The SDGs highlight the connections
between the environmental, social and economic aspects of sustainable
development. Sustainability is at the center of the SDGs.

The short titles of the 17 SDGs are: No poverty (SDG 1), Zero hunger (SDG 2), Good
health and well-being (SDG 3), Quality education (SDG 4), Gender equality (SDG 5),
Clean water and sanitation (SDG 6), Affordable and clean energy (SDG 7), Decent work
and economic growth (SDG 8), Industry, innovation and infrastructure (SDG 9), Reduced
inequalities (SDG 10), Sustainable cities and communities (SDG 11), Responsible
consumption and production (SDG 12), Climate action (SDG 13), Life below water (SDG
14), Life on land (SDG 15), Peace, justice, and strong institutions (SDG 16), and
Partnerships for the goals (SDG 17).

Briefly describes those goals in the below:

1. No poverty : No Poverty is one of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

established by the United Nations as part of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable
Development. The goal aims to eradicate poverty in all its forms and
dimensions. The United Nations Sustainable Development Goal (SDG): No
Poverty defines poverty as a condition characterized by severe deprivation of
basic human needs, improving food, water, sanitation, shelter, healthcare,
education, and employment. People living in poverty are often unable to
meet their basic needs and are at risk of disease, malnutrition, and violence.
The No Poverty Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) aims to eradicate
extreme poverty by 2030, which is defined as living on less than $1.90 per
day. The goal also aims to reduce the proportion of people living in poverty
by half, and to ensure that all people have access to basic social services.
2. Zero Hunger : SDG 2 aims to end global hunger and malnutrition by 2030.
Although progress has been made, approximately 800 million people, primarily
women and children, still suffer from hunger. Smallholder farmers are particularly
at risk of undernourishment since they rely on agriculture for their livelihoods.
Goal 2 targets ending hunger and all forms of malnutrition, doubling the income
and productivity of small-scale farmers by 2030, and promoting sustainable
agriculture to avoid environmental damage.

3. Good Health : Good Health & Well-Being is one of the 17 Sustainable

Development Goals (SDGs) established by the United Nations in 2015.
It aims to ensure healthy lives and promotes well-being for all at all ages. The
Good Health and Well-being SDG (Sustainable Development Goal) is one of
the 17 SDGs established by the United Nations in 2015 as part of the 2030
Agenda for Sustainable Development. The goal of SDG 3 is to ensure healthy
lives and promote well-being for all, at all ages. This includes reducing
maternal and child mortality, ending the epidemics of AIDS, tuberculosis,
malaria, and other communicable diseases, and promoting mental health
and well-being

4. Quality Education : The international community recognizes that education and

quality training is crucial in improving living conditions for individuals and
communities. Therefore, SDG 4 ensures equitable access to inclusive, high-
quality education for all, reducing disparities and inequities. This goal is critical as
education is essential for achieving sustainable development, and it can
transform individuals' lives and break the cycle of poverty, enabling upward
socioeconomic mobility.

5. Gender Equality : SDG 5 seeks to promote gender equality and empower

women, which is a fundamental human right and necessary for sustainable
development. Gender disparities become more pronounced as children grow. For
example, women remain underrepresented in political leadership and perform a
disproportionate share of domestic work. In addition, they face various
inequalities, including deprived access to healthcare and nutrition in some
countries, leading to a higher mortality rate.
6. Clean water and sanitation : SDG 6 aims to provide access to safe water,
sanitation, and hygiene for all and ensure the sustainability and quality of water
resources. Millions of people die yearly due to water-related diseases, and over
half the population lacks access to clean drinking water and sanitary facilities.
The goal also targets the protection and restoration of water-related ecosystems
and promotes cross-border cooperation for integrated water resource
management at all levels.

7. Affordable and clean energy : SDG 7 aims to provide access to clean and
affordable energy, vital for various aspects of development, such as agriculture,
business, education, and healthcare.

8. Decent work and Economic growth : SDG 8 encourages sustainable and

inclusive employment, economic growth, and decent work conditions. Creating
sustainable economic growth is essential for combating poverty and providing
decent employment opportunities for developing countries and industrialized and
emerging economies. However, over 200 million people worldwide, particularly
young people, are unemployed.

9. Industry, innovation and infrastructure : Goal 9 focuses on building strong

infrastructure, encouraging sustainable industrialization, and fostering innovation.
Investing in sustainable infrastructure and scientific research leads to job creation
and economic development. SDG 9 promotes technological innovation in
developing countries and aims to increase access to financial services for small-
scale industries. It also emphasizes universal and affordable internet access in
the least developed countries.

10. Reduced Inequality : SDG 10 is focused on reducing inequality within and

among countries, which is considered one of the biggest obstacles to poverty
reduction and sustainable development Inequalities based on sex, race, income,
ethnicity, and religion persist worldwide and limit opportunities for social groups
to contribute to economic, social, political, and cultural life.
11. Sustainable cities and Communities : SDG 11 focuses on building safe,
inclusive, resilient, and sustainable cities and communities. Over 50% of the
global population resides in cities, and this proportion is projected to rise further.
However, cities also pose major challenges, such as their enormous
environmental footprint. As a result, SDG 11 intends to reduce the adverse
impact of cities on the environment, particularly in terms of waste management
and air quality.

12. Responsible consumption and production : SDG 12 aims to ensure

sustainable production and consumption patterns to sustain the livelihoods of
current and future generations. However, current consumption rates exceed the
capacity of ecosystems to provide resources, necessitating significant changes in
production and consumption to remain within ecological limits. SDG 12 intends to
reduce food waste, promote sustainable practices, and encourage sustainable
public procurement practices.

13. Climate Action : SDG 13 aims to urgently address climate change and its
impacts. Climate change significantly threatens sustainable development,
affecting vulnerable populations and ecosystems worldwide. The warming of the
earth's atmosphere has led to extreme weather events, rising sea levels, melting
glaciers, and the displacement of millions of people. Despite increased global
carbon dioxide emissions, the global community has yet to fully commit to
reversing the climate crisis.

14. Life Bellow Water : SDG 14 protects and promotes the sustainable use of seas,
oceans, and marine resources. Oceans and seas cover 70% of the planet,
provide food, energy, and water, and help mitigate climate change by absorbing
a quarter of annual CO2 emissions. However, human activities are harming this
vital ecosystem, endangering both marine life and the livelihoods of billions of
people. To address this, SDG 14 calls for the reduction of marine pollution and
minimizing ocean acidification by 2025.

15. Life on Land : SDG 15 aims to protect and restore terrestrial ecosystems,
combat desertification, sustainably manage forests, and halt biodiversity loss.
 Biodiversity and forests are essential to human prosperity, providing clean water
and air, food security, absorbing CO2 emissions, and offering a basis for
environmental development. However, human actions have caused significant
changes to terrestrial ecosystems, endangering approximately 40,000 species
and destroying 10 million hectares of forest annually.

16. Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions : Conflict, weak institutions, insecurity,
and limited access to justice threaten sustainable development. As a result, SDG
16 promotes access to justice and inclusive institutions at all levels to create
peaceful and inclusive societies. SDG 16 ensures that people feel safe,
regardless of ethnicity or beliefs. To accomplish this, it is essential to strengthen
the rule of law, restrict the illegal flow of weapons, promote human rights, fight
corruption, and ensure inclusive involvement at all times.

17. Partnership : SDG 17 emphasizes the need for a global partnership and
cooperation between civil society, governments, and the private sector to ensure
that no one is left behind. These partnerships require a comprehensive funding
framework beyond official development assistance and significant mobilization of
domestic resources. The goal also advocates for international collaboration in
science, innovation, and technology and an equitable multilateral trading system,
macroeconomic stability, and policy coherence to support sustainable
development.

Bangladesh Parjatan Corporation (BPC)

Bangladesh Parjatan Corporation (BPC) (Bengali: বাাংলাদেশ পর্যটন করদপাদরশন) is a statutory

board under the Ministry of Civil Aviation & Tourism of Bangladesh, tasked to promote
the tourism industry of the country. It is the National Tourism Organization of the
country. Recently Bangladesh Government has formed Tourist Police unit to better
protect local and foreign tourists as well as look after the nature and wildlife in the
tourist spots.

Activities :
1. Tourism Development :
• Infrastructure Development: BPC plays a vital role in
developing tourism infrastructure, including the construction of
hotels, motels, resorts, and recreational facilities in various tourist
locations.

• Tourist Facilities: BPC provides services such as transportation,

guided tours, and information centers to facilitate tourist visits and
make travel easier within the country.

2. Promotion of Domestic and International Tourism:

• Tourism Campaigns: BPC promotes Bangladesh as a tourist destination both

domestically and internationally through marketing campaigns, brochures, and
online platforms.

• Tourism Fairs and Exhibitions: BPC participates in and organizes tourism fairs
and exhibitions at home and abroad to showcase Bangladesh’s cultural, natural,
and historical attractions.

3. Tourist Services :

• Accommodation: BPC operates hotels, motels, and restaurants at key tourist destinations
throughout Bangladesh, offering affordable and quality accommodations for visitors.

• Tour Packages: The corporation offers a range of travel packages to local and
international tourists, providing guided tours, transportation, and information services to
enhance the tourist experience.

4. Training and Human Resources Development :

 • Tourism Training Institute: BPC runs the National Hotel & Tourism Training Institute
(NHTTI), which provides courses on hospitality, tourism management, and catering to
develop skilled human resources for the tourism and hospitality sector.

• Workshops and Seminars: The corporation conducts regular workshops, seminars, and
training sessions to improve the skills of individuals involved in the tourism sector.

5.Tourism Policy and Planning:

• Policy Formulation: BPC actively engages in formulating policies related to the

tourism industry in collaboration with the Ministry of Civil Aviation and Tourism.
The corporation plays a key role in shaping national tourism development
strategies.

• Tourism Investment: BPC encourages both domestic and international

investment in the tourism sector, facilitating public-private partnerships to
develop new tourist destinations and services.

Bangladesh Tourism Board (BTB)

Bangladesh Tourism Board, a member of the UNWTO and PATA, is the National Tourism
organization of Bangladesh. . In 2010 Hon'ble Prime Minister of the People's Republic of
Bangladesh Sheikh Hasina established it through the enactment of the Tourism Board
Act, 2010.

Activities : Firstly, I would like to inform about the plans and policies of this Board.
Tourism Master Plan comes first if we want to say about plans and policies of the Board.
This Master Plan is going to be a complete guideline to achieve the cherished goal of
the Board. All the Stakeholders of Tourism sector is working in a line to formulate this
Master Plan and the successful implementation of this plan would work as a state-of-the
art in this sector. Keeping this spirit in mind, we initiated the task of formulating the
Master Plan in 2020.

An international consulting firm was hired for this. As per approved work Plan , the task
is supposed to be completed on June 30, 2021, . In this endeavor of formulating the
Master Plan, COVID-19 pandemic came as a big blow creating a stagnant
hindrance. But anyhow, we are committed to complete the task for a better tourism
industry in Bangladesh.

Tourism Recovery Plan : With a view to overcoming the loss of tourism caused by
COVID-19 pandemic and taking the tourism sector forward, a recovery plan has been
formulated. The ministry has already approved it and has asked to make necessary
guideline on the same. Accordingly, 22 polices or guidelines have been prepared for
the implementation of this recovery plan. The policies or guidelines will cover (1)
Adventure Tourism (2) Agro-Tourism, (3) Rural Tourism, (4) Cultural Tourism, (5)
Responsible Tourism (6) Ocean Cruise Tourism (7) River Tourism (8) Haor Tourism (9)
Halal Tourism (10) Religious Tourism (11) Sports Tourism (12) Sustainable Tourism (13)
Wildlife Tourism (14) Gastronomy Tourism (15) MICE Tourism (16) Blue Economy and
Tourism (17) Volunteerism in Tourism (18) Bangabandhu Tourism Award (19) Internship
program for students (20) Beach carnival (21) National and International Tourism fair
and (22) Training guideline and module on CBT.

Secondly, Current activities for promoting and marketing of Tourism products.

Bangladesh Tourism Board is managing several promotional and distribution works to

showcase the country's tourism potentials in the global arena.

Among others, BTB has created a web portal: www.beautifulbangladesh.gov.bd, only for
promoting the country's tourism to visitors worldwide. The website contains photos and
videos of all the tourism attractions found in 64 districts of Bangladesh.
BTB is also creating a database on tourism including information on all the subsectors of
tourism as well - airlines, hotels, motels, transport, guide, tour operator, and amusement
park and so on. This will help tourists to enjoy a one-stop solution for their visit to the
country.

It can be mentioned here that Bangladesh Tourism Board is also developing a mobile
app called Beautiful Bangladesh for both IOS and Android. This will not only allow
tourists to receive information on tourism destinations and hospitality but also to book
various services related to their visit.

United Nations World Tourism Organisations (UNWTO)

The UNWTO (United Nations World Tourism Organization) is a specialized agency of the
United Nations responsible for promoting sustainable and universally accessible tourism. It plays
a key role in advancing tourism as a driver of economic growth, inclusive development, and
environmental sustainability. The UNWTO works with governments, international organizations,
and the private sector to foster tourism policies that contribute to sustainable development and
international cooperation.

Activities : Its main activities include providing tourism research and statistics, setting global
standards for the tourism industry, and offering technical support and policy guidance to member
countries. It also advocates for responsible tourism that respects cultures, local communities, and
the environment.
 Tour Operator Association of Bangladesh ( TOAB)

Tour Operators Association of Bangladesh (TOAB), was formed in the year of 1992. This was the
time when a handful of agencies operating tours inside Bangladesh, felt the need of such an
association or trade body to overcome immense problems and difficulties being faced by them
regularly. Besides this, the other main objective or aim of the organization was to develop and
nourish tourism in Bangladesh and to promote tourism products of Bangladesh in the international
arena.

Activities :

1. Promotion of Bangladesh Tourism: TOAB works to promote Bangladesh as a tourist

destination both locally and internationally by organizing and participating in tourism
fairs, conferences, and exhibitions. It also collaborates with government bodies and
international tourism organizations.
2. Advocacy and Policy Support: The association advocates for the interests of tour
operators and the broader tourism sector. It engages with the government to ensure
favorable policies, infrastructure development, and investment in the tourism industry.
3. Training and Capacity Building: TOAB organizes training programs, workshops, and
seminars for its members to enhance their skills and knowledge in various aspects of
tourism, including hospitality management, tour operations, and customer service.
4. Networking and Partnerships: The association facilitates networking among its
members, both domestically and with international tour operators. It promotes
partnerships between public and private stakeholders to boost tourism.
5. Crisis Management and Support: During crises such as the COVID-19 pandemic or
natural disasters, TOAB provides support and guidance to tour operators on how to
manage challenges, recover, and rebuild their businesses.
6. Sustainable Tourism Initiatives: TOAB promotes sustainable tourism practices,
encouraging eco-friendly and responsible tourism activities to preserve the natural
environment and cultural heritage of Bangladesh.
7. Standards and Regulation: TOAB works to maintain high standards of professionalism
and quality within the tour operation sector. It often collaborates with regulatory
authorities to set guidelines for ethical business practices.
These activities help TOAB contribute to the overall growth and professionalism of the tourism
industry in Bangladesh.

Association of Travel Agents of Bangladesh ( ATAB)

The Association of Travel Agents of Bangladesh (ATAB) is a trade organization that

represents the interests of travel agencies in Bangladesh. It works to promote, develop, and
regulate the travel and tourism industry in the country. ATAB engages in various activities, such
as:

1. Advocacy and Policy Representation :

• ATAB advocates for the rights and interests of travel agents, working closely with the
government to influence policies that affect the travel and tourism industry.
• It represents the interests of its members in negotiations with airlines, hotels, and
other key stakeholder.

2. Training and Capacity Building :

• The association organizes training programs, workshops, and seminars for its
members to enhance their skills and knowledge in areas such as ticketing,
customer service, and tourism management.
• It provides access to global industry standards, new technologies, and best
practices for travel agencies.

3. Regulations and Compliance :

• ATAB ensures that its members adhere to industry regulations and ethical
standards. It plays a role in maintaining professionalism within the travel industry in
Bangladesh.

4. Promotion of Tourism :

• ATAB works actively to promote both inbound and outbound tourism in Bangladesh.
It collaborates with various tourism boards and international organizations to
enhance the country’s appeal as a tourist destination.
 5.Industry Standards: ATAB works to maintain high industry standards by establishing
guidelines for ethical business practices among its members. This helps to ensure
transparency, reliability, and quality service in the travel sector.

6. Dispute Resolution: The organization also acts as a mediator in resolving disputes

between travel agencies and clients, as well as between agencies and suppliers,
ensuring fair practices and good customer service.

7. Networking and Collaboration: ATAB fosters networking opportunities for travel

agencies by organizing conferences, forums, and events where members can
collaborate, share ideas, and form partnerships.

8. Licensing and Accreditation Support: ATAB assists its members in obtaining

necessary licenses and accreditations, such as IATA accreditation or other travel-
related certifications.

9. Policy Development: ATAB actively participates in the development of travel and

tourism policies in Bangladesh, working with government bodies to enhance
infrastructure and regulations that benefit the industry.

Through these activities, ATAB plays a critical.