Beach Sports & Tourism
Already done:
- International beach Vollyball 2002-2009 by Bangladesh Volyball Federation
- international Beach Kabadi 2007 by Bangladesh Kabadi Federation & Activate Bangladesh Foundation
- International Beach Handball 2007 by Bangladesh Handball Federation & Activate Bangladesh Foundation
Planned:
- At least 2 International Beach Volleyball Championship per year by Bangladesh Volleyball Federation
- International Beach Cricket by Bangladesh Cricket Board & Activate Bangladesh Foundation
- International Beach Football by Bangladesh Football Federation & Activate Bangladesh Foundation
- International Beach Sports by Bangladesh Olympic Association
Internationally Beach Sports is highly popular. In fact Beach Volleyball having the 2nd height Tv viewership worldwide. Beach Football & Cricket is also having popularity now a days, worldwide. Bangladesh is not far behind. We have got the longest, widest, natural & unbroken Sea beach, Cox’s Bazar, where any international beach sports can be organized and getting hedge popularity. So International beach Sports Festival can be organized at Cox’s Bazar before 2011 Cricket World Cup. 100 countries can take part and it would be one of the mega event in the history of Bangladesh.
So without any motivation, without any advocacy campaign almost 4-5 lacs sports related personalities and tourists came to Bangladesh and spent lots of money here. And right now the positive image of Bangladesh is reflected by the performance of the Bangladesh Cricket team.
So our suggestion is to put Sports Tourism in the priority sector of Tourism development guidelines in Bangladesh. And on the priority basis we should do the followings:
1. To build multisectorial Stadium at Cox’s Bazar.
2. To recognize Adventure Tourism by BPC/Tourism Board in a positive way and to help the organizers to reach the international level.
3. Organizing Beach Sports regularly with the help of National Sports Federations and Sponsors and bring more international flavour to those beach events.
4. In 2010, Bangladesh is going to host South Asian Federation Games at Dhaka, Chittagong, Khulna, Barisal, Rajshahi & Sylhet. Minimum 2500 Athletes, Organizer, Referees, Judges, Observers, Journalists from print & electronic media, TV crews, still photographers, Tourists will come to Bangladesh. If we take it as a pilot project and target at least 50% of those people to make them visit at Cox’s Bazar, St Martin, Kuakata, Sundarban, Moynamati, Mahasthangor, Bandarban-Rangamati-Khagrachori, Srimmongal etc. And then we can expect them to perform like an Ambassador of Sports Tourism in Bangladesh.
