Keeping pace with technological developments and global trends, Bangladesh’s travel market is expected to experience exponential growth specifically in the online management of customer needs. Meanwhile, the shift of travel agencies to working online has become more apparent as people have avoided in-person visits due to the pandemic,

However, this upcoming development needs policy support and strict government monitoring for its proper and healthy growth, said speakers at a seminar titled “Travel and Technology: Emergence of OTAs in Bangladesh,” held at a Dhaka city hotel on Tuesday.

The day-long seminar, first of its kind, was held in two sessions and was addressed by Ibne Fazal Shayekhuzzaman, director of Biman Bangladesh Airlines; Rizwan Rahman, president of the Dhaka Chamber of Commerce and Industry; Monsur Ahmed Kalam, president of the Association of Travel Agents of Bangladesh, and Syed Almas Kabir, president of the Bangladesh Association of Software and Information Services, spoke among others.

Two keynote papers were presented at the seminar, one on Emergence of OTAs in Bangladesh by Kazi Wahidul Alam, Editor of The Bangladesh Monitor and the other on Travel and Technology by Tina Jabeen, Managing Director and CEO of Startup Bangladesh Ltd.

The Bangladesh Monitor, a fortnightly travel journal, with support from City Bank, Eastern Bank and travel tech distribution and reservation systems Sabre Corporation, Galileo and Amadeus organized the event at Pan Pacific Sonargaon Dhaka.

Presenting a session’s keynote paper, the publication Editor Kazi Wahidul Alam said online travel agencies started emerging in Bangladesh in 2017 and presently there were over 50, providing a myriad of services such as ticket and hotel booking and visa processing.