The floods are taking toll on Bangladesh's fledging tourism sector as occupancy rate in hotels and guesthouses drops sharply in last month, reported the Daily Star on Saturday.

The floods have caused 30 percent drop on average in occupancy rate of hotels and guesthouses across the country, as foreign tourists do not take pleasure trips during floods, said Sadique Ahsan, president of Bangladesh Hotel and Guest House Owners Association.

According to unofficial statistics, some 5,000 foreign tourists visit Bangladesh a year who spend some 1,000 US dollars each during their trips. Besides, about 200,000 foreigners come to Bangladesh a year for business or other purposes.

Tour operators usually have little business during monsoon of the year, but they are now almost out of business due to floods, as they have to suspend all tours to Sundarbans, the largest mangrove forest in the world, and other sightseeing spots including Rangamati, Bandarban and Sylhet.

The outbreak of water-borne diseases and damaged infrastructure will surely discourage tourists to visit Bangladesh in the next season, said Faridul Haque, president of Bangladesh Tour Operators' Association.

Managing Director of a leading tour organizer Hasan Mansur, moreover, was quoted as saying that the floods will add to the nation's perennial image problem as a disaster-prone country that affects tourism industry.

It will take time to restore tourists' confidence, as the bad image is a big problem for tourism growth, he added.
 
(Xinhua News  Agency  August 7, 2004)