Regional : SASEC Tourism Development Project

Industry and trade / Trade and services

Economic growth in South Asia needs to be sustained and accelerated, to boost economic and social development and achieve the Millennium Development goals. Regional cooperation can help achieve these development goals, by eliminating physical and nonphysical barriers, expanding markets for goods and services, and reducing transaction and transportation costs. Cross-border development of basic infrastructure will reduce physical barriers to the movement of goods and people, which in turn can expand regional trade and tourism. Tourism development can create expanded economic opportunities, generate employment and incomes, and promote infrastructure development. Increased tourism within the region can also contribute to mutual understanding and development of a stronger sense of community among the countries and peoples of the region. South Asia is rich in cultural and natural tourism resources, which can be made more attractive if thematic sites are linked as multi-country tourism circuits and products, through appropriate development of infrastructure and facilities. A Tourism Development Plan (TDP) was prepared and finalized in 2004 under the South Asia Subregional Economic Cooperation (SASEC) Program, covering Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, and Nepal. The TDP identified priority programs and projects for further implementation, focusing on two common themes, Ecotourism and the Buddhist Circuits. The TDP was recently updated to include Sri Lanka.