Tour Operators Association of Bangladesh (TOAB)

Tour Operators Association of Bangladesh (TOAB) was formed in the year of 1992. This was the time when a handful of agencies operating tours inside Bangladesh, felt the need of such an association or trade body to overcome immense problems and difficulties being faced by them regularly. Besides this, the other main objective or aim of the organization was to develop and nourish tourism in Bangladesh and to promote the tourism products of Bangladesh in the international arena. After a long wait and completion of different formalities, the association was recognized as a trade organization by the Ministry of Commerce, Government of the People's Republic of Bangladesh in 2002. Currently, TOAB is having 751 active Members.

1. Tour Operators Association of Bangladesh
Md Shaifullar Rabbi
Tourism Educator and Consultant
BBA & MBA ,Major in Tourism & Hospitality Management
University of Dhaka

2. Tour Operators Association of Bangladesh (TOAB)
TourOperatorsAssociationofBangladesh
(TOAB)wasformedintheyearof1992.This
wasthetimewhenahandfulofagencies
operatingtoursinsideBangladesh,feltthe
needofsuchanassociationortradebodyto
overcomeimmenseproblemsanddifficulties
beingfacedbythemregularly.Besidesthis,
theothermainobjectiveoraimofthe
organizationwastodevelopandnourish
tourisminBangladeshandtopromotethe
tourismproductsofBangladeshinthe
internationalarena.Afteralongwaitand
completionofdifferentformalities,the
associationwasrecognizedasatrade
organizationbytheMinistryofCommerce,
GovernmentofthePeople'sRepublicof
Bangladeshin2002.Currently,TOABis
having751activeMembers.

3. •ThemaingoalandobjectiveofTOABaretoencourageforeigntourists
tovisitourcountry'stouristattractionsandestablishmentsandto
workforthedevelopmentofdomestictourisminBangladesh.
•Fromtheverybeginning,TOABhasbeenpromotingandattracting
foreigntouriststovisitthetouristattractionsofourcountryandhas
beenworkingtirelesslyforthedevelopmentofdomestictourismin
Bangladesh.
•TOABMembersconductaround90%ofthetouroperationin
Bangladesh.
•Theyareplayinganimportantroleintheeconomicdevelopmentof
Bangladeshbyearningforeignexchangethroughinboundtourism.
•TOABalsomaintainsexcellentrelationshipswiththeMinistryofCivil
AviationandTourism,BangladeshParjatanCorporation,Bangladesh
TourismBoard,FBCCI,andothertourismassociationsandtrade
bodies.Sinceitsinception,TOABsupportstheMinistry,BPC,BTBin
differentpolicy-makingprocesses.

4. Functions and Activities of TOAB
•TOABMembersregularlyparticipateinthedifferenttourismfairsinAsia,Europe,
andNorthAmerica,etc.,andcontributetobrandingBangladesharoundtheworld.
•SincethebeginningofTOAB,itsmembershavebeenactivelyparticipatingin
differentinternationaltradefairslikeITB-Berlin,BIT-Milan,FITUR-Madrid,
WTM-London,ATE-Sydney,BITE-Beijing,ATM-Dubai,KOTFA-Seoul,
COTTM-Beijing,JATA-Tokyo,MITT-Moscow,MATTA-KualaLumpur,ATA
TravelMart-Bangkok,TTF-Kolkata,OTM-Mumbai,SATTE–Delhi,etc.in
collaborationwiththeMinistryofTourismandBangladeshTourismBoard.
•TOABalsoparticipatesindifferentlocalandregionaltourismexhibitions
organizedbytheTourismMinistry,BangladeshTourismBoard,andBangladesh
ParjatanCorporation.
•TOABorganizesBangladeshTravelandTourismFair(BTTF)everyyearwhichis
thelargestinternationaltourismfairinBangladesh.Itistobenotedthatthe
TOABBTTF2019wasinauguratedbytheHon'blePresidentofthePeople's
RepublicofBangladeshMr.Md.AbdulHamid.
Source-https://www.toab.org/index.php?action=page&page_id=6

5. •TOABobservesWorldTourismDaywithday-longprograms
everyyear.TOABorganizesworkshops,seminars,andtraining
programsaroundtheyear.
•TOABorganizesvariousFAMTrips,TourismAwareness
Programs,Roadshowsthroughouttheyeartopromoteand
expandthecountry'stouristattractionsandfacilities.These
programsattendbytheTOABPresident,BoardofDirectors,
Hon’bleMembers,TOABOfficials,Govt.Officials,journalistsof
printandelectronicmedia,andtourism-relatedpersonalities.
•TOABworkstogetherwithBangladeshTourismBoardforthe
brandingofBangladeshforthepurposeofunveilingnew
touristattractionsandpromotingexistingtouristattractions.