CHAPTER O1

Introduction

Introduction:
“The summer no sweeter than ever,
The sunshiny woods all a thrill;
The grayling asleep in the river,
The strong life that never knows harness,
The fresh, the freedom, the farness—
Oh God! How I’m stuck on it all.”

- Robert Service, Spell of the Yukon, 1890

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Tourism is undoubtedly one of the growing industries of the world. No matter how good your
destination is! It’s all about how you represent your destinations. That is why most of the
beautiful destinations have yet to discover.

Rivers constitute a major tourism resource, providing spectacular settings, recreation facilities, a
means of transport, a sense of heritage and adventure, and links with the environment and natural
world. River tourism accounts for a significant proportion of the world's tourism consumption,
with activities. It offers authentic, realistic and adventurous travelling for a traveler.

Rivers are fascinating places which

comprises a significant tourism
resource of cultural heritage and
natural environment. Surprisingly,
there is little attention among
policymakers involved in the
development of river tourism on the
upper Mekong that has not been
fully utilized for tourism purposes
compared with its lower part

Barisal, alias name is the Venice of Bengal, is the most exoteric place for living if anyone wants
to pass his/her time for recreation. Hundreds of rivers, canals are surrounded in the whole
division. And most importantly people of this region highly dependent on this rivers. An
aphorism goes in Bangla- ধান, নদী, খাল এই তিনে বরিশাল !

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Riverine tourism has yet to develop in this region. People of this region don’t even know what
riverine tourism is! But, She (Barisal) has all the elements to develop it anyway. With this wealth
of cultural beauty it is very much possible to make Barisal as a prominent tourist destination.
And we also want to show the tourists-

“You can't be unhappy,

In the middle of a big, beautiful river. “

-------Jim Harrison

Background of the study:

Humanity has advanced, when it has advanced, not because it has been playful, rebellious, and
immature. Tourism is one of the most fast growing industries all around the world. We have
ample instances of countries where people have developed their attitude, behavior and overall
globalized their nature through tourism. Bangladesh, a slow moving tourist region where most of

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the people are highly dependent in fertilizing, is also trying to develop tourism as an economical
product also. Unfortunately Barisal is one of the highbrow tourist spots of Bangladesh. We have
yet to develop this area that is blessed with unparalleled divine beauty. There are more than 10
tourist spots in around Barisal where people have many interesting aspects to do. Every spot has
different kinds of appeals and features. The aim of the thesis paper is to reveal the rummages
river tourism from a range of perspectives including uses, heritage, management, environmental
concerns, and marketing in Barisal.

Objective of the Study:

Broader objective:

The Broad objective is to know about the progression of riverine tourism of Bangladesh.

Specific objective:

To reach the broad objective, some distinctive objectives are found:

 To study the present condition riverine tourism

 To perusal the principles of riverine tourism
 To highlight problems facing to develop riverine tourism development in Barisal.

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 CHAPTER O2
Literature Review

Literature Review
Rivers are an important but surprisingly neglected aspect of the global tourism industry, and
have apparently been of little interest to tourism scholars (Prideaux et al, 2009, p. 3). There is
little attention among policymakers in the GMS countries on the role of passenger transport
(Mekong River Commission, 2003). It is noted that river tourism comprises of tourism beside the
river and tourism on the river (Cooper & Prideaux, 2009, p. 258). Tourism beside the river
represents hotel, casino and restaurant for instance, whereas tourism on the river represents
cruise, waterway transportation and canoeing to mention but a few. This research emphasizes the
importance of the latter since a huge potential is expected to promote high-yielding tourism by
linking Barisal with Dhaka. Vacations are primarily motivated by going away from mundane

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circumstances, while nature-based tourism is motivated by going towards something such as the
activity itself (Vespestad, 2010).

The rivers being a breathtaking way of savoring the magnificence of nature reflect the traditional
ways of life, the people and nature. The serenity and texture of riverine landscapes vary from one
another with romantic appeal -- sometimes in a dramatic way, permeating a sense of pleasantness
to the beholders (The writer is a Senior Staff Reporter, The Daily Star).

A riverine landscape includes the ecosystems (all living things including plants and animals) in
and around the area of a river. A riverine may also be defined as a network of rivers and
surrounding land. Riverine landscapes are excellent for agricultural uses such as farming because
the land is rich and fertile. They are a valuable resource for growing food (Wikipedia).

Rivers are taking an additional element of commerce and trade that of transporting tourists on
sightseeing cruises. In rural and less developed regions, rivers have retained their natural
characteristics, creating interest in rivers as eco-tourism and nature-based resources (Prideaux et
al, 2009). A number of cities are built beside rivers where urban-river activities and lifestyles of
local residents living next to the waterway are most interest to visitors. In the countryside, rivers
appeal to people because they retain much of their natural beauty and offer an opportunity for
fishing, boating and other forms of recreation (Prideaux et al, 2009). This also applies for
Barisal, because it also some unique elements with above mentioned natural beauties. The largest
guava market, the beautiful cruise from Dhaka to Barisal, hundreds of rivers and canals what else
a person want to expect from a single visit.

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 CHAPTER O3
Methodology

3. Methodology
3.1 Research Design

In this study, the exploratory research design has been followed. An exploratory design is
conducted about a research problem when there are few or no earlier studies to refer to. As we
know there is no research study has been made in this area to develop tourism. The focus is on
gaining insights and familiarity for later investigation or undertaken when problems are in a
preliminary stage of investigation.

3.2 Sources of Data

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Primary sources

As I have already said that there is no study I have found about the development of tourism in
Barisal although here are my primary sources of this study-

 Photographs, audio recordings, video recordings, films

 Newspapers and magazine clippings published at the time
 Public opinion polls
 Speeches

Personal Observation

Developing tourism affects a destination as well as improves the standard of life and Barisal is
not an aberration. It’s very difficult to provide very specific information about the local people’s
perception regarding the development of tourism in Barisal as the choices and opinions differ
from one another although most of them are positive in this regard.

Personal interview

All the data have been collected by personal interview of the local people of Barisal. They give
their views, ideas, and plans regarding the uplift of riverine tourism impact of this country. When
taking face-to-face interview of the tourists they were asked to express their own speech about
this destination.

Secondary Sources:

The secondary sources mainly consist from website, different published research work.
Secondary data was also collected from journals, magazines and books. This also helped to meet
the objectives and to determine the potential advantages to meet the information for major goals.

3.3 Data Collection

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All the data were collected from the normal conversation that was collected from the local
people. I, personally, collected all the data from the residents in 5 different locations by face-to-
face interview session. Some data also collected from the engaged personnel in the respective
department by in-depth interview session. As an instance, I interviewed Jobbar (the boat rider)
told us about the whole scenario of this area. The interesting part was what he thinks is positive I
thought it was negative for the promotion or real development of this area.

3.4 Data Limitation:

Despite the comprehensiveness of this survey and the use of a representative sample, there are
some limitations.

 Lack of available information

 Lack of expertise in this sector.
 Previous experience was not as high as in writing report.
 During the interview, a significant amount of avoiding tenancy and refused to give
answer was a major problem.
 Various data for the same thing and thereby caused considerable confusion about the real
situation.

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 CHAPTER O4
Destination and the development of the destination

Barisal: The Destination

Barisal ( বরিশাল ) is the capital of Barisal division. The ancient name of was Chandradvipa It is
fast growing city on the Kirtankhola River. Bakerganj was renamed as Barisal district. It is one

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of the oldest ports in Bangladesh. It is also the second largest port in Bangladesh also. Rivers,
canals – Bill, forests are the main natural beauty of this land. It is 373 km by road from capital
city Dhaka. It was declared as a municipality city in 1876. Pyarilala Ray was the first chairman
of Barisal municipality and was turned into a City Corporation in 2000.

This city is known the “Venice of Bengal” Barisal division has six districts, and they are
Barguna, Barisal, Bhola, Jhalokati, Patuakhali, Pirojpur. Other districts around it are Bhola and
Lakshmipur districts on the east, Jhalokati, Pirojpur and Gopalganj districts on the west.
Madaripur, Shariatpur, Chandpur and Lakshmipur districts on the north, Patuakhali, Barguna and
Jhalokati districts are on the south. It is 164 KM from Dhaka.

Riverine Tourism in Barisal:

Guava Market: The southern region of Bangladesh is famous for guavas, more popularly
known in Bangladesh as ‘Bengal’s Apple’. Especially in Jhalakathi Sadar Upazila and at
Swarupkathi and Banaripara Upazila in Pirozpur, farmers heavily rely on guava farming. Such

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diversity of life is hardly to be found in other places of the country. Loss in guava farming in one
season usually leads to extreme distress for the farmers throughout the year. The current year is
one of those.

The eye-soothing guava orchards on canals over Jhalakathi’s Sugandha, Bishkhali, Gabkhan and
Sandhya River are Southern region’s main places of guava farming. Every day, thousands of tons
of guavas are supplied all across the country. Boats are the main transportation for supplying.
Farmers carry the guavas onto the boats from the river-adjacent orchards. There are hundreds of
boats filled with guava and all the trades occur on boats.

The floating market appears as the centre of Barisal’s (aka The Venice of Bengal) beauty.
Nobody knows when the idea of this floating market began, but it’s a hundred-year old tradition.
Development and modernization are taking over the country but it’s surprising to see them not
reaching to this river-oriented life yet. For more than 100 years, the local farmers have been
experiencing the ups and downs of life along with the ebb and flow of the river. Many farmers
and wholesalers gather here every day. Not only guava, there are other fruits sold in this market.

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Boat Market: Boat makers at the weekly “Noukar Haat” (boat market) in Kuriana (কু ড়িয়ানা)
under the Swarupkathi upazila of Pirojpur district are doing brisk business during this monsoon
season. The two-kilometre-long marketplace is noted for the trade in different varieties of boats
during the monsoon season. The market runs every Friday from May to November. “Panis” or
“Pinis”, “Dingi” and “Naak Golui” are the types of boats available for sale, built by local
craftsmen from the Muktahar, Chami, Boldia, Inderhaat, Boitha Kata, Dubi and Kathali villages.

After reaching at Barisal Rupatoli bus stand, take “Dhanshiri Paribahan” leaving for Khulna. Ask
the bus supervisor to stop at Kirtipasha Mor in Jhalakathi. Bus fare would be 60 taka. From
there, take shared Auto Rickshaw to reach Vimruli by paying 20-30 taka.

Kirtonkhola River:
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Kirtankhola-Barisal River, is a major river in the southern part of Bangladesh. This was the main
Barisal district were the main transportation routes and trade in the past. This ancient river is
known as River in Barisal. Barisal to Sayeshtabad Kirtonkhola Gabkhan Gajalia khal (canal) is
generated between the District and the end. The total length is about 16 km. The natural beauty
of the river view is very interesting and gifts.

Age, Nalini Bengal Ganges has three courses, and the flow is Pabni Haldini. Pabni, Sugandha
previous joint meeting with Padma current like that, Madaripur again flowed through southern
Faridpur, Arial Khan Khan as walking or name change. Arial and Arial Khan are in Madaripur
Branch Course as a branch flowing south-southwest of the city of Barisal Kirtankhola Nalchity
West Bank. The flow direction and get a different name, in the Bay of Bengal as a fierce air
Haringhata Khan.

Kirtonkhola the river is about 16 kilometers long by 600 meters wide and 15 meters deep. The
catchment area is 307.00 km square. The river flows throughout the year as a whole. It is
influenced by the tide. Barisal Barisal City Corporation and the main section of town next to a

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river Kirtonkhola, social
and cultural life of the city
and its economic well-
being is an important role
is. Barisal, is as popular as
many canals of Venice,
known locally as khal
known rivers in the city,
passing through the city.
Business in the last 400-
500 years has sailed here.

Kirtanakhola River flows

side of the Barisal City.
The river starts from
sayestabad and end to
Gajalia River through
Gabkhan Canal. It is also known as the Barisal River. Kirtanakhola is a river in southern
Bangladesh. The River is located in the bank of Barisal city. Kirtanakhola the river has to be
sayestabada Barisal district. Gajaliyara have been guilty of it gabakhana Canal. The total length
of the River is 160 km.

The nature of the river is wide, deep and wild. From the British rulers embankment built to
prevent salinity and flooding Barisal city, the river was measured by a mile wide. But within a
century, half the width of the island in the river or reduce carbon buildup. At the same time, as
well as the depth, current flow is reduced. The erosion of the river and shows a tendency to have
a lot of sediment.

Some Promising destinations:

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Barisal is undoubtedly one of the best beautiful natural attractions in Bangladesh. Developing
tourism in Barisal is not a conversant thing for this destination. If the liable departments, the
government and the private communities aid to develop for tourism I can surely conjecture it will
be a great initiative for the development of this country. Here, the local communities eager to
develop their destinations and it will be a great alignment between the tourist and the local
people. Traditionally Barisal is very sound and historically it has some aberrations with its
culture, and languages. Some prodigious people have born here and we can also materialize them
as a part of tourism. What we can do to capture these area as an output of tourism. Some
promising destinations are:

 Sher-e-Bangla A K Fazlul Haque: There has already made a museum in chakhar, Barisal
but the destinations are not as good as popular due to have not presented meaningfully
and not organized also. A college named AK Fazlul Haque College is established in
front of Sher-e-bangla’s house. The family needs to co-operate these activities also
because they seem to have a very bad attitude. No one of his family exists in his Chakhar
house.

 Birshrestha Mohiuddin Jahangir: We can also make an initiative to memorize his

sacrifice in the liberation war. What we can do is to make a museum and a place where
people can go and enjoy their time with some extra facilities.

 Jibana Nanda Das, Sufia Kamal: Ashiwini Kumar: These people are also very famous in
their own characteristics. We also can make them present to our next generation by
making museums, a place to visit and that will be a great source of income generating
industry for tourism.

 Kuriyana: Guava market undoubtedly one of the best tourism destinations in Barisal
nowadays. It was around 15 kilometers far from Barisal. The unique features of
Kuriyana is the celebration of Durgapuja. Approximately 36 villages, where more than

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 45000 people are living and almost 95% of these people are Hindu. The local people of
Barisal come to visit in puja times because of their celebration of a large group of
people’s. And, the most important part to capitalize is that this tourist destination is only
season based and the season is Rainy. The important thing is that in rainy season you
have to fight for only a few destinations for customers. Because, in rainy season people
are not going to visit Coxsbazar, kuakata etc.

Other Attractive Destinations:

Muktijoddha Park, Barisal.

Muktijoddha Park:

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Muktijoddha Park, a newly constructed park, is one of the developed tourist destinations in this
region. It was situated adjacent to the river of Kirtonkhola. Former mayor Shawkat Hossain
Heron established in this park in 2010 near the Launch terminal of Barisal.

Durgasagar, Madhabpasa, Barisal.

Durgasagar :

Durga Sagar is, a different taste of tourism destination, also known locally as Madhabpasha
Dighi is the biggest pond in southern Bangladesh. It has a total area of about 2500 hectares. The
lake is about 11 kilometres (6.8 mi) away from Barisal city. Rani Durgabati, mother of Raja Joy
Narayan, had the pond excavated in 1780. There is a small island in the middle of the lake.

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 University of Barisal

Barisal University:
Barisal University, situated at the bank of Kirtonkhola adjacent to the beautiful breeze named
Dapdapia Bridge. It is one of the natural attractions in the near located area. Every day, hundreds
of people come there to pass their time. It was established in 2011 and started educational
activities on 24 January 2012. The university offers degrees in undergraduate levels. There are
twenty academic departments under six faculties.

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Beautiful Journey begins with stunning ships

Bells park, Barisal

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Residential facilities
Barisal has everything. It has world class hotels to stay too. Hotel Grand Park is the beginning of
a new era in hotel businesses. People from different regions come to visit and stay these hotels
comfortably. So, hosting as a destination for tourism won’t be a big problem though. The main
problem though all the hotels are mainly urban based. There are no hotels in somer area where
people have demand to visit for a longer period of time like Kuriyana guyava market and many
more places.

Hotel Grand Park, Barisal

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 CHAPTER O5
Findings, Recommendations and Conclusion

There is always an opposite side of a coin rather I should say everything has its dark side in this
good world. There has always a room to development. Barisal, a place of dynamic interest for its
natural attraction, has yet to disclose its beauty to the people of other region of this country.
After visiting the whole tourist destination of Barisal I can easily predict that it has the every
potentiality to become a very good tourist destination. Like I said, there is always been a space
for improvement. Here, I have found some problems and discloses the corrective requirements
for the development of this area.

Barisal is the most educated region of Bangladesh although people of Barisal have yet to develop
the educational knowledge of tourism. Need to arrange some educational training for the
development of the local people vocational knowledge. They don’t know how to attract people
by decorating a destination. Tourism leaders have not been established over the period of time.
Thus, the lone university also doesn’t have any course in this related subject. So, educating
people is also a primary requirement to develop tourism in this area.

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Need to develop the promotional activities as well. If the people don’t know about the
destination how it could develop. Marketing of a destination expedites destination development
for tourism because promotional activities always carry an extra value. Travel agency business is
now being a very popular form of advertising. Arranging different types of trip will expedite the
growing opportunity of this destination.

People have to understand tourism is a product and they need to assist this product carefully. The
more the destination develops the more the tourists will visit thus the more the development will
come to the party. A constructive development expedites a destination moderately. A product is
something that needs to care and develop. People of other tourism destinations have already
gathered the primary knowledge that these tourists are their feed and they need to care them
carefully.

The supporting tourism destinations need to build. If the present situation makes to grow only a
single destination and if there is no available supporting area to visit then people have not been
influenced to visit for a longer period of time. For an instance, destination like Coxsbazar like
has lot things to do like parasailing, visiting other places like Moheskhali, Teknaf, Saint-Martin.
Why a group of people will visit Barisal instead of Coxsbazar and other places? So, it needs to
arrange some other outing activities that enhance the number of tourists.

Developing a destination means developing the local people. The more the local people develop
the more it creates the attraction. Thus, financially they need to assist by the different financial
organizations because a single people can make a differentiation by his activities. In Kuriyana,
the local guava producers have to face financial problems during their season. Mr. Harun-or-
Rashid, a bank manager from Janata Bank, tells me that he sanctioned an amount of 1 million
taka loan for the development of guava production.

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 Kuriyana

Communication facility needs to develop to an extent by road. The roads are zigzag and another
big problem is the big river needs to cross. Barisal airport has yet to develop as an international
airport. There is not enough assistance for the customers. Every time customer complains there is
not enough flights during emergency cases. Every day one or two flight has organized only for
Dhaka. So, other tourist destinations have not any direct aircraft to reach Barisal. We need to
ensure enough communication facilities to encourage people visit our tourist destinations. In
river journey some people frighten to visit in Launch, water bus. So, it can also develop through
ensuring and proper promotional activities.

Traditionally, Barisal has some misconceptions for having a culturally different language
pronunciation. People of Barisal have always faced some issues in this regard. To overcome
these condemns they need to make understood that they are not alien rather they have the cultural
background as the other destination people have.
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The tourism activities of this region are almost same. There are not enough variations in this
regard. All seems to be river based. So, it is important to make variations even it could not be a
bad idea if any counterfeit tourism spot can promote for different tastes. It can be Planet Park,
Bangabandhu Uddyan, and Green Park. Need to promote these destinations who have been
pedestrian after visiting lots of water based tourism destination.

Hotels of Barisal are not good enough to capitalize the number. There are only a few numbers of
moderate hotels where tourists can live for visiting purpose. The price rate is higher than
moderate hotels in other places comparatively

There have not enough financial institutions in these regions and ATM booths as well. The
customers of different banks are not eligible to withdraw for the unavailability of enough booths.
So, it needs to ensure enough banking facilities for the tourists.

Transportation vehicle is another problem to arise. Paucity of enough transportation facilities

provokes them not to visit these places. Some vehicles have not been licensed by the law of
government. Local transportations are not attractive enough to influence a tourist to visit.

Developing tourism sometimes turn you back with some vigorous problems. It will tough to
sustain for a longer period of time. Noisy crowd, dusty environment losses the authenticity of the
local destinations natural flavors.

Violence of this area for a tourist can be a very significant. Usually, no more places in our
country you can find as impressive that a criminal won’t find. Tourist police branch has yet to
make a branch in Barisal. As Barisal has not yet to recognize as a tourist destination, it needs to
include the tourist facilities.

Maximum tourists come from different destinations and they come for the first time for visit as
usually they don’t know where the destinations are. This makes difficult sometimes to bargain
with each and every tourist with the local people. Local people are trying to cheat the tourist.
Need to change the mentality to grow Barisal as a tourist destination.

Restaurant facilities of Barisal are also not impressive comparing to the other tourist destination.
And the restaurants are situated randomly in different locations. Even some tourist destinations

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have not had a single quality restaurant. Durgasagar, Kuriyana and Madhabpasa are facing the
same problem since their commencement.

Rivers are contaminating as the local communities and tourists make it a garbage or dustbin. It
seems if it is going in that way it won’t be a too long to find out another buriganga. The local
communities, tourists and all other groups should make understood that tourism is a product and
we need to take care of this product. Kirtonkhola is an asset of Barisal and if we cannot utilize it
a sustainable basis we could lose it.

Parking problem is another problem which has to arise these days. In the destination like Tris
Godown, Bells Park, Planet Park, Muktijoddha Park has not had any facilities to park cars. The
more the society develops the more urbanization increases. So, we need to keep on my mind that
we have to think for at least next 50 years for our next generation.

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