Civil Aviation and Tourism Minister Afroza Khanam said today that the government planned to transform Cox's Bazar into a major tourism hub through integrated development, improved connectivity and an eco-tourism-based approach. 

"We want to transform Cox's Bazar, home to the world's longest unbroken sandy sea beach, into a tourism hub," she told a high-level meeting at the Finance Division conference room at the Bangladesh Secretariat, said a press release here. 

Finance and Planning Minister Amir Khasru Mahmud Chowdhury chaired the meeting, convened to review an integrated development action plan for Cox's Bazar district, with particular focus on its tourism sector.

Home Minister Salahuddin Ahmed, Land Minister Md Mizanur Rahman Minu, Housing and Public Works Minister Zakaria Taher, and Environment, Forest and Climate Change Minister Abdul Awal Mintoo, among others, attended the meeting.

Afroza said the government has already taken initiatives to modernise Bangladesh Tourism Corporation hotels in Cox's Bazar as part of efforts to enhance tourism facilities in the country's premier tourist destination.

She called for adopting an eco-tourism model in developing Cox's Bazar, stressing the need to ensure that tourism expansion goes hand in hand with environmental sustainability.

The minister also sought cooperation from all relevant stakeholders to realise the government's vision of developing the coastal district into a major tourism hub.

Highlighting the importance of international air connectivity in attracting overseas visitors, Afroza said the government expects to inaugurate Cox's Bazar International Airport soon.

"We hope to inaugurate Cox's Bazar International Airport very soon. Once the new international airport is inaugurated, Cox's Bazar will become even more attractive to foreign tourists," she said.

Home Minister Salahuddin Ahmed said a new master plan would be formulated for Cox's Bazar in line with the proposals put forward by the civil aviation and tourism minister.

He said the master plan would seek to transform Cox's Bazar into a state-of-the-art tourism hub.

The meeting also held detailed discussions on establishing visitors' points along the Marine Drive and setting up a Blue Economy University in the region.

At the conclusion of the meeting, Finance and Planning Minister Amir Khasru Mahmud Chowdhury directed the authorities concerned to immediately begin preparing a master plan for developing Cox's Bazar as a Smart City, incorporating proposals made by the stakeholders.

Senior officials from the Finance Division, Ministry of Civil Aviation and Tourism and other government agencies were present.