Background Cox's Bazar, often referred to as the tourism capital of Bangladesh, holds immense potential for job creation, especially in the flourishing tourism sector. Millions of tourists visit Cox's Bazar annually, making it a prime destination for tourism-related opportunities. However, several challenges such as limited entertainment facilities, weak destination management, and overall coordination have hindered its growth. In response to these challenges, the International Labor Organization (ILO), in collaboration with UNDP and BRAC, has initiated a project aimed at empowering the host community in Cox's Bazar. The project focuses on gender-sensitive skills development, employment, and self-employment opportunities for the local population, with a particular focus on women, youth, minorities, and people with disabilities.
Objectives The workshop, held on July 25, 2023, at the Long Beach Hotel in Cox's Bazar, aimed to sensitize participants on the potential for tourism to create enterprises, businesses, and employment opportunities in the region, with a specific focus on women and young people. It provided an overview of ILO's interventions in Cox's Bazar, emphasizing the importance of sustainable tourism for job creation. The workshop facilitated discussions among key stakeholders, including government organizations, UN agencies, employers, and workers' groups, to explore avenues for creating more and better jobs in the local tourism sector.
Workshop Outcomes and Recommendations The workshop enabled key stakeholders to gain insights into ILO's upcoming interventions, understand their roles and responsibilities in delivering these interventions, and share valuable information and knowledge regarding policy frameworks and job creation in Cox's Bazar's tourism sector. Recommendations emerged from the discussions, including the reactivation and expansion of the District Tourism Development Committee (DTDC) in close collaboration with the District Commissioner's office to ensure diversity and inclusion. Additionally, plans were outlined for promoting identified destinations, establishing destination management committees, and enhancing skills development within the tourism and hospitality industry.
The workshop provided a valuable platform for multi-stakeholder dialogue, fostering collaboration and knowledge sharing, and paving the way for comprehensive efforts to harness the potential of the tourism sector for job creation in Cox's Bazar.
