The political upheaval in Bangladesh is severely affecting India’s inbound tourism, industry executives said.
Bangladeshi travellers, who make up a significant 23% of the inbound tourism market, primarily come for medical tourism and shopping, particularly during peak periods such as Durga Puja and wedding seasons. However, the unrest has led to a 90% decline in outbound travel, according to officials from the Travel Operators Association of Bangladesh.
The crisis escalated about two weeks ago when PM Sheikh Hasina left the country amid growing student unrest. This situation led to temporary disruptions in flights and a suspension of all visas except for medical purposes. Though flight operations have resumed, an official from a low-cost carrier that operates flights to Dhaka said the load factor for these flights has dropped by more than half.
Md. Taslim Amin Shovon, director of the Tour Operators Association of Bangladesh, told ET that outbound travel to India represents a substantial portion of Bangladesh’s travel market.
“India is a key destination for Bangladeshis, who account for 40-45% of outbound trips. Kolkata is a favoured shopping hub, particularly before festivals, while Sikkim, Northeast India, and Kashmir also attract visitors.”
Debjit Dutta, chairman of the Indian Association of Tour Operators’ West Bengal Chapter, said the travel between Bangladesh and India has nearly ceased. Shovon agreed with this assessment.
“We’ve witnessed a 40% decline in bookings from Bangladeshi citizens after the unrest,” said a general manager at a leading five-star hotel chain in Kolkata, who requested anonymity.
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