Amrita Nandy1*, Soman Chakraborty1 and Md. Sahidur Rahman
Abstract: In the era of globalization, tourism has occupied a central position in the world economy. Similar to the global trend, Bangladesh’s tourism sector has witnessed the dark facet of the COVID-19 pandemic. This paper examined the consequences of the pandemic on tourism in Bangladesh and how these adversities could be surmounted. The study is based on secondary data collected from academic articles, newspapers, and websites to understand the scenario of the industry during the pandemic. The study has found significant negative outcomes of COVID-19 on the industry, which sharply pushed down the GDP share from 4.4% to 3%. Furthermore, the pandemic has raised the unemployment rate to 3.9%, which was at 2.9% in the early year. Interestingly, the analysis signifies the prospects of domestic tourism, which contributes to 96% of Bangladesh’s revenue in the sector. The recovery plan recommended in the study will guide policymakers, practitioners, and organizations to revive the industry again. Additionally, new pathways are drawn for future researchers.
Keywords: Tourism industry, employment, Bangladesh, COVID-19
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