Impact of Rohingya Refugee Migration Flow on Bangladeshi Tourism Destinations

Roy, Mallika; Chowdhury, Md. Mohiuddin

Bangladesh is the land of natural beauty and resources, which has different tourist spot, such as beaches, archaeological sites, religious places, hills and islands, forests and others. Tourism industry is contributing to business and social development, the cultural and environmental quality, and employment and economic growth (Onetiua and Predonua, Procedia Soc Behav Sci 92: 652–655, 2013). Recently, refugee crisis attacked the tourism environment in Cox’s Bazar, the most attractive tourist spot in Bangladesh. Recently, refugee crisis attacked the tourism environment in Cox’s Bazar, the most attractive tourist spot in Bangladesh. In this context, this study is an attempt by the researchers to sort out the effects of refugee, Rohingya, migration in the tourism capital city of Bangladesh. The specific research objectives of this study are: first, to analyze the present scenario of tourism industry in Bangladesh; second, to examine the effects of refugees in tourism industry of Bangladesh; and third, to find out the challenges and suggest some policy recommendations. In this paper the researchers work on a case study of Cox’s Bazar. The researchers follow explanatory research, and uses both qualitative and quantitative method to move on the way of purposes. The researchers use interview method, and follow random sampling from hotel managers, NGO workers and tourists in this study. Tourism is the important means for domestic and foreign remittances. But this industry is facing threats due to refugee issues and failing to maintain a good image. This paper focuses on impacts of refugee crisis, and propose some policy recommendations.