Rajib Dey: Bangladesh is set to host its first-ever international travel trade marketplace as more than 20 countries will participate in the Bangladesh Travel Mart (BTM) 2026, a landmark initiative designed to strengthen the country’s position on the global tourism map and create new opportunities for international business, investment and travel partnerships.
Organised by the Bangladesh Outbound Tour Operators Association (BOTOA), the three-day event will be held from September 3 to 5, 2026, at Hotel InterContinental Dhaka, bringing together leading tourism organisations, airlines, hotels, destination management companies (DMCs), tour operators, travel agencies, investors and buyers from Bangladesh and abroad.
More than 130 international and domestic exhibitors, 50 international hosted buyers, 200 Bangladeshi buyers, representatives from over 100 tourism organisations, and approximately 15,000 visitors are expected to attend what is being billed as Bangladesh’s largest international tourism and travel trade exhibition.
Announcing the event at a press conference in Dhaka, BOTOA President Syed Golam Mohammad said Bangladesh’s tourism industry has entered a new era, driven by improved connectivity, growing private-sector investment, stronger government support and expanding international engagement.
“Bangladesh possesses exceptional natural beauty, a rich cultural and historical heritage, and renowned hospitality. Bangladesh Travel Mart 2026 will provide an international platform to showcase these strengths and establish stronger partnerships with the global tourism industry,” he said.
He added that the event would serve as a catalyst for promoting Bangladesh as an attractive tourism destination while creating fresh commercial opportunities across the tourism, hospitality and aviation sectors.
BOTOA General Secretary Md. Shariful Islam Sharif said that although the association primarily represents Bangladesh’s outbound tourism industry, it remains equally committed to expanding inbound tourism and attracting international visitors.
“BTM 2026 reflects our long-term vision of positioning Bangladesh more prominently within the international tourism marketplace while creating meaningful opportunities for business partnerships and investment,” he said.
BTM Chief Coordinator Mohsin Iqbal described the event as a comprehensive international networking platform that will bring together tourism boards, airlines, hotels, destination management companies, tour operators, and travel agencies from around the world under one roof. Also present at the event were Vice President A.K.M. Kamruzzaman and members of the Board of Directors.
One of the defining features of BTM 2026 will be the separation of Business-to-Business (B2B) and Business-to-Consumer (B2C) activities into dedicated exhibition halls, enabling exhibitors to engage more effectively with trade professionals while offering consumers a focused travel marketplace.
For the first time in Bangladesh’s travel exhibition history, the event will also host an International Hosted Buyer Programme, facilitating structured business meetings between global buyers and exhibitors.
The B2B programme will feature pre-arranged buyer-seller meetings, networking sessions and partnership discussions aimed at generating new commercial opportunities, promoting cross-border tourism cooperation and encouraging investment across tourism, hospitality and aviation.
Meanwhile, the B2C exhibition will provide consumers with direct access to domestic and international tour packages, airline tickets, hotel reservations, visa services, destination information and exclusive promotional offers from participating exhibitors.
To support media coverage, the organisers will establish a dedicated Media Centre equipped with press facilities, interview coordination, media kits and communications support for both local and international journalists.
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