DHAKA: Bangladesh has been placed under a high-risk red-alert, potentially impacting the country`s tourism and overall travel to Asia.

 According to Tourism-Review.com, the growing political tensions in the small South Asian country, which is situated between India and the Republic of the Union of Myanmar, has greatly hindered leisure tourism.

 As violent political protests continue to increase, the number of hotel and tour cancelations continue to pile up, causing concern for many of the nation`s tourism companies.

"Our company handled about 3,000 foreign tourists during November to February period of last year of which there will not be more than 1,500 tourists this year," Masud-Hossain, executive director of Bengal-Tours Ltd., told the news outlet. "More than 80 groups of three to 10 people have already canceled their bookings on security and safety grounds."

Shahid Hussain-Shamim, CEO of Ajiyer Fair-Trade Tourism, added that he had several large tour groups from the United Kingdom, Germany and Japan canceling their trips, and worries that his company will see a 30 percent revenue loss by the end of 2013.

According to the Bangladesh Tourism Board, the region has seen an influx of visitors to its various historic and nature sites, such as Foy`s Lake, the Srimangal tea gardens and red-earth temples.

Source: netglobers.com
BDST: 1113 HRS, OCT 29, 2013
SR/RS