Wetland Tourism : The Potentials of Tanguar Haor

as a Community Based Tourist Destination

in Bangladesh.

Presented by :Prof. Dr. Syed Rashidul Hasan

Asstt. Prof. Mohammad. Badruzzaman BhuiyanDepartment of Tourism & Hospitality Management.

University of Dhaka. Bangladesh.

Bangladesh?

147,570 km²Bangladesh is almost 1.5 times larger than South Korea.

Bangladesh comprises only 0.03% of the Earth’s total area.

We have the 120 kms WORLD’S LONGEST unbroken sandy sea beach stretched from Cox’s Bazar to Teknaf.

Bay of Bengal

120 kilometers

It is a Tiny Land, But…

Bangladesh has the largest Mangrove Forest in the World which is known as SUNDARBANS having a total

area of 6000 km². The Sundarbans is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

also Bangladesh has the largest Buddhist monastery, at Paharpur, which dates back to late 8th century ( 781 – 821), is the largest Buddhist Viharas south of the Himalayas.

It was designated as UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1985.

Bangladesh has more than

411 HAORS (Wetlands) !!!

Haors are large saucer-shaped flood plain depressions located mostly in north-eastern region of the country covering about 25% of the entire region.

There are altogether 411 haors comprising an area of about 8000 km2 dispersed in the districts of Sunamgonj, Sylhet, Moulovibazar, Hobigonj, Netrokona & Kishoreganj.

Tanguar Haor is one of the largest wetland ecosystems of Bangladesh comprising of 10,000 ha or 100 square kilometers of land area.

It was declared as an Ecologically Critical Area (ECA)by GoB in 1999.

Later, this wetland was declared as a Ramsar Site in 2000.

Ta n g u a r H a o r

Let us Watch a Video Documentary on

Ta n g u a r H a o r

Location

It is located in the district of Sunamgonj at the foothill of the Indian Khasi Hills.

B iod ivers i ty

The unique ecosystem of Tanguar Haor supports- nearly 200 species of wetland flora, 141 species of fish, 11 amphibians, 34 reptiles and 208 species of birds of which 98 are migratory

Source: IUCN (2010)

Community of Tanguar Haor

Tanguar Haor provides livelihood to some 77,000 people spread over 88 villages (Census of TH, 2007).

Involvement of local community in different occupationOccupation In %

Agriculture 36.3

Fishing 41.7

Handicraft 1.5

Small business 10.4

Livestock 10.1

Total 100

Tanguar Haor is Rich, but the people are poor ………

Entire population of Tanguar Haor is dependent on fishing and farming as their main livelihood earning.

During monsoon these people do not have any other significant alternative earning sources by which they can support their families. So they migrate to nearby towns and cities in search of odd jobs.

The average monthly income of most of the families in and around Tanguar haor is around 60 US$

In Quest of Alternative Earning Sources :

Probably Tourism can be an alternative source of income

Because

Despite no good tourist facilities are there, 8 to 10 thousands of tourists visit this wetland every year.

The ratio of tourists as per winter and monsoon seasons is almost 7:3. So, tourism can occur round the year.

It is flourishing as a potential Tourist destination at the north-east part of Bangladesh

Primary Objectives of the ResearchIn an attempt to supplement the income of the people of TH, a feasibility study has been done to introduce Community-based Ecotourism for Tanguar Haor, that may ensure- Sustainable Economic Contribution to the Local

Communities through tourism activities Conservation of Biodiversity through Sustainable

Management of Tourism Assets

Observations and Assessment

Tourism in Tanguar Haor may comprise of two slots in a year :

1. Winter tourism

2. Monsoon tourism

Winter Tourism : Attractions

Main attraction is hundreds of thousands of migratory birds.

Tourists, mainly the bird-lovers, researchers, and photographers rush to Tanguar Haor.

Migratory birds start coming in October and continues till the end of March.

Monsoon Tourism : Attractions In monsoon, Tanguar haor looks like an endless sea. All

the leeves or kandas (elevated lands)go under water. Only the villages in high lands can manage to remain

dry and look like isolated islands in the endless sea. Adventure lovers, who have their dream to boat in a

sea-like water-body under the cloudy sky that rains unpredictably, will choose monsoon to visit Tanguar Haor.

Tourism Services and Facilities Available in Tanguar Haor

At present no accommodation for the tourists

No food and beverage

No good transport system

No infrastructural development

SoThere is huge potential for developing tourism by involving the local community

Involvement of the Community

The term Community based tourism is a complex conception. Mere creation of tourism facilities and involving the local community in the tourism activities may not bring desired results. We like to perceive the term with the help of thee components, these are :

1. Community

2. Tourism Attractions

3. Community USTO

(USTO stands for Unique Selling Tourism Offers – what the community has to offer to the tourists which is unique, entertaining, and attractive. Example may be culture, rituals, handicrafts etc.)

Models for Assessing a Suitable Community for CBT

We get three models which show the interactive relationship among the three factors/components. The models are :

Model 1 : Transit travelers destined for natural/man-made attractions via community settlements (main attraction is natural/man-made tourism assets; so less benefit to the community).Model 2 : Only Community USTOs (no other added attractions)Model 3 : Community USTOs blended with natural/man-made tourists attractions (community is the host)

SUNLUST

WANDERLUST

OTHERS

MODEL 1 : Transit travelers destined for natural/man-made attractions via community settlements

Community & Community activitiesMain attraction is

natural/man-made tourism assets; so less benefit to the community

Tourists

Natural man-made

attractions

Community

MODEL 2 : Only Community USTOs (no other added attractions)

Tourists

Community

MODEL 3 : Community USTOs blended with natural/man-made tourists attractions (community is the host)

COMMUNITY VILLAGE

Tourists

Natural/ man-made assets

Community

Application of the Models :

Out of three models it is obvious that in short term strategy formulation, models 1 and 2 are not workable at Tanguar Haor.

Model # 3 is the most appropriate

Model: 1 Model: 2 Model: 3

Problem of involving communities in tourism activities at Tanguar Haor :

Ó Tanguar haor has a specific market segment

Ó Tanguar haor has natural attraction both in winter (bird watching) and in monsoon ( huge wavy water reservoir).

Ó Unfortunately the local community does not have any significant USTOs for the tourist except the tribal culture in the northern part of the haor. A small number of Garo and Hazong families inhabit in Banglavita, Bakatola, and Majhirchhara villages.

So, probably the ways to involve the local people in tourism

activities will be : boating (sight seeing, bird watching, and house boats for night stay), guiding, catering, house keeping (for home-stay and house boats)

(a) Providing shallow draft silent electric boats to transport the tourist groups into the bird sanctuary.

(b) Providing eco-friendly houseboats having facilities for sleep, eat, and toilet to the local (tourism) community management. Each house boats may have the carrying capacity of maximum 10 tourists.

(c) Providing guide training to the young people of the community and making use of guides mandatory for all tourists.

(d) Training and uplifting the tribal cultural performances of the Garo and Hazong communities to turn it into a tourist product.

(e) Train up and Engage the people in catering, housekeeping and other hospitality activities for home-stay/houseboat tourism

How Can Community People be Involved in Tourism Activities :

Sunamganj-

Solaimanpur Ghat (about 65 km)

Solaimanpur Ghat

Tahirpur UP

Proposed Routes and Zone for Winter Tourism

Tahirpur UP

Solaimanpur Ghat

Golabari Tourist Point

Hatirgata Beel

Rupaboi Beel

Lechua Beel Rowa Beel

Chotainnar Beel

Anchorage & Winter Tourist Zone

Golabari Tourist Point

Hatirgata Beel

Rupaboi Beel

Lechuamara Beel

Rowa Beel

Chotainnar Beel

Berberia Beel

Hatirgata Tent Camp

Solaimanpur Ghat

Anchorage of House Boats

Tahirpur UP

Solaimanpur Ghat

All the way by Boat

Bangal Vita

Proposed Routes and Zone for Monsoon Tourism (Route 1)

Tahirpur UP

Solaimanpur Ghat

Road Transport from Sunamganj-

Tahirpur

Bangal Vita

Water Transport from Tahirpur –

Bangal Vita

Proposed Routes and Zone for Monsoon Tourism (Route 2)

Areas where PPCP (Public Private & Community Participation) is neededEco friendly vehicles :

(i) Shallow draft silent boats : The main mode of transport in and around Tanguar haor is boat dependent. However, these boats are engine –run indigenous boats making huge noise pollution and water pollution through spillage of fuel and lubricant.

As alternative way, during the winter and monsoon seasons, 50-seater glass roof very shallow draft (50 cm draft) silent electric boats be operated to take the tourists to the deeper Haor areas, including the bird sanctuary.

These boats are absolutely safe to carry the tourists and also environment friendly as these are driven by electric power hence create no sound pollution to disturb the birds. Beside, chance of oil and lubricant spillage and CO2 emission is nil.

(ii) HOUSEBOATS - the Paradise on Waves :Houseboats are huge, slow-moving barges used for leisure trips. Such a houseboat is about 60 to 80 feet (18 to 23 m) long and about 15 feet (4.6 m) wide at the middle. The hull is made of wooden planks. In Kashmir, in famous Dal lake hundreds of houseboats are seen. Kerala tourism has flourished because of so many factors, house boat is one of these.The houseboats may be of different sizes, some having up to 3 bedrooms, a living room and a kitchen. House boats normally carry 8 to 12 persons.

In South Korea, one study shows that in 4 of your major wetland tourist sites, namely :Changnyeong Upo Wetland (840ha)Junam Wetland (285 ha)Nakdong river estuary (3420 ha)Suncheon Bay ( 2800 ha)

 Were visited by 22 million tourists in 5 years time (2007 -2012) 

Eco-Observatory

1.2 kilometer-long field of

reeds 

Ramsar Culture Center 

Junam Ecological Center

Korea has rich experiences in Wetland Tourism Management

Need Korean Help in Terms of Investment & Expertise.

We Welcome Korean Involvement in Developing Our Tourism Sector Which is Tremendously Promising and Potential.

Korean Investors may Come Forward to Invest in Infrastructural Development in Haor Area which Include Creating Walk ways, Building Roads, Procuring Silent Electric Boats and Boat Houses, Training the People in Guiding and Hospitality Activities, Protecting Ecology and Environment and So on.

Korean Wetland Tourism Researchers and Practitioners can help Us by Sharing and Disseminating Their Knowledge and Experiences.

THANK YOUThank You