Potential and Challenges of Dark tourism in Bangladesh
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The main aim of this study is to find out the potential and challenges of Dark Tourism in Bangladesh. The study is a qualitative study. KIIs (Key Informant Interviews) method is best suited for this qualitative study as this study has tried to find out individual perception as well as opportunity, potential and challenges to flourish dark tourism in Bangladesh. Primary and secondary both sources of data have been used to conduct this study. The primary data of this study has been collected through an in-depth one to one personal as well as online interview by a structured questionnaire. The key respondents of this study are tourism stakeholders such as government officials (employee of Bangladesh Parjatan Corporation and employee of Bangladesh Tourism Board) as well as academicians and tourists who have visited any dark tourism destinations in Bangladesh. The study results reveal that Bangladesh has huge potential to bloom dark tourism as it is enriched with dark tourism resources. In spite of various challenges to develop dark tourism such as insufficient government support, inadequate allocation for tourism in the national budget, less attention of authority to dark Tourism destinations, lack of proper management, insufficient infrastructural facilities, lack of professionalism etc., some potential measures for overcoming challenges and promoting dark tourism have also been outlined in this study. This study will provide understandings to those who are tourism stakeholders in Bangladesh such as Bangladesh Tourism Board (BTB), Bangladesh Parjatan Corporation (BPC), Ministry of Civil, Aviation and Tourism as well as private tourism stakeholders who are focused on new form of tourism to attract tourist and people who are interested to know details of dark tourism in Bangladesh. This study will also help to create awareness and take effective steps to develop dark tourism in Bangladesh.
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