DIU- Oxford Cultural Collective to explore Bangladesh’s tourism sector

Daffodil International University (DIU) is planning to shake hands with the Oxford Cultural Collective to explore the prospects of the tourism sector in Bangladesh, said a press release on Wednesday. 

Aiming to establish the tourism industry as a major economic power of Bangladesh, the Department of Tourism and Hospitality Management of the DIU organised a round table discussion on "Hospitality Industry: Securing the Future for Bangladesh in the Global Arena" on January 28, 2020 at Banquet Hall of the university. 

Professor Donald Sloan, former chairman of the Oxford School of Hospitality Management, and chairman of the Oxford Cultural Collective, presented the keynote speech at the programme. 

Speakers at the meeting said that Bangladesh's hospitality and tourism sector is experiencing rapid growth and it is becoming a significant contributor to the economy. 

In addition, it is a sector that shapes perceptions of Bangladesh internationally. Its sustainable success depends on a pipeline of skilled and motivated workers. 

However, the skill-deficit is one of the key challenges facing the hospitality and tourism industry worldwide. 

At the round table discussion it was decided that an international conference titled "DISH Bangladesh (Daffodil International Symposium on Hospitality)" will be organised in Bangladesh from April 2-4, 2020.

Dr Md Sabur Khan, chairman of the board of trustees of the DIU and chairman of the Daffodil Family was present as the chief guest at the round table discussion.

Professor Dr Yousuf M Islam, vice-chancellor of the DIU, presided over the round table discussion.

Former foreign secretary Farooq Sobhan, Prof Dr SM Mahabub-Ul Haque Majumder, pro vice-chancellor of the DIU, Mr Mohammad Nuruzzaman, chief executive officer of the Daffodil Family, were present as the special guests. 

Mr Mahabu Parvez, head of the department of Tourism and Hospitality Management of the DIU moderated the round table discussion. 

Mr Md Zillur Rahman from government's A2i project, Mr ABM Ashraful Haque and ANM Shajahan from Skills for Employment Investment Program (SEIP), Ms Nadira Kiron of ATN Bangla and many other tourism specialists, hotel manager, tourism journalist, high officials from the government and a number of businessmen from tourism sector of Bangladesh attended the discussion session.