“Bangladesh Travel Mart (BTM) 2026” has opened in the capital, aimed at expanding trade, building networks and forging stronger connections with the global market.
The three-day fair, bringing together domestic and international tourism businesses, runs from Thursday, Sept. 3.
Held for the first time at Hotel InterContinental in the capital and organized by the Bangladesh Outbound Tour Operators Association (BOTOA), the fair has drawn tour operators, travel agencies, airlines, destination management companies (DMCs), tourism organizations and various other travel service providers from home and abroad.
Dr Prakash Kanti Chowdhury, joint secretary of the Ministry of Civil Aviation and Tourism, formally inaugurated the fair. Philippine Ambassador to Bangladesh Nina P. Kaingliet, along with government officials, tourism industry representatives and officials of participating organizations, attended the opening ceremony.
Organizer BOTOA said roughly 100 organizations and 60 trade buyers are taking part in this year’s fair. Organizers expect roughly 15,000 visitors over the three-day event.
Organizers said the travel mart aims to connect Bangladesh’s tourism industry more effectively with the international market and create opportunities for direct business relationships between domestic and foreign tourism organizations.
On the opening day, various stalls drew crowds of visitors, who inquired about tourist destinations in different countries alongside tour packages, airfares, accommodation and dining options, and visa-related information, comparing offers as they went.
Asked about the purpose of the fair, BOTOA President Syed Golam Mohammad said: “We don’t see the Bangladesh Travel Mart as just an exhibition. It’s a major platform for building a direct connection between Bangladesh’s tourism business and the international tourism market.”
He said: “Our goal is to bring domestic and international buyers, sellers and tourism service providers under one roof and create genuine business opportunities.”
BOTOA General Secretary Md Shariful Islam Sharif said: “We want to turn this fair into an international-standard business platform that offers not just exhibitions but also constructive business discussions and B2B (business-to-business) meetings. General travelers will also get the chance to come to the fair and speak directly with various companies to compare offers.”
This year’s fair includes separate B2B (business-to-business) and B2C (business-to-consumer) programs for tourism businesses and general visitors. In the B2B segment, professional tourism businesses can hold meetings and build business relationships with domestic and international buyers and sellers. In the B2C segment, general visitors can get direct information on tour packages, flight tickets and visa services of their choice and compare them.
The fair features a wide range of attractive offers on domestic and international tour packages, flight tickets, hotel and resort bookings, and visa processing services. The fair, of interest to travel enthusiasts and businesses alike, runs through Sept. 5.