WELCOME TO CHITTAGONG TRAVEL MART 2009

Nestled between the Chittagong Hill Tracts and the Bay of Bengal, Chittagong is the second largest city of Bangladesh and considered as commercial capital. It is also home to the country's major industries. With trading being the main vocation, the city can boost the largest concentration of wealthy people and much higher per capita income.

Chittagong is the site of Bangladesh's busiest port which handles 80 per cent of all Bangladeshi imports and exports. The port has extensive modern facilities and is expected to be transformed into a world class deep sea port in the coming years in order to cater to the growing economies of the region including that of Bangladesh, Eastern India, Nepal, Bhutan, Western China and Northern Burma. The city has a vibrant economy and a diverse population of Bengalis, Chakma, Burmese, Tripuri, Chinese, Korean and Marma.

Chittagong is the second gateway to Bangladesh by Air, having direct air links with various Middle Eastern and regional countries.

Chittagong is home to a large number of industries from small to heavy. It has automobile industries, oil refinery, pharmaceutical plants, chemical plants, export processing zones, steel mills etc. The privately owned Korean export processing zone is also located in Chittagong.

It has a population of over 6 million and is continuing to grow. According to City Mayors Statistics, Chittagong is registering an annual growth rate of 6.3 per cent. It is estimated that in 2020 the GDP of Chittagong will be $39 billion.

It is also is an ideal vacation spot. Its green hills and forests, its broad sandy beaches and its fine cool climate always attract the holiday-makers. It combines the busy hum of an active seaport with the soothing quiet of a charming hill town.

Having various attractions to become one of the major tourist destinations of the country, which need to be projected home and abroad, the concentration of wealthy people with much higher per capita income may generate good flow of outbound tourists as well.
With a view to harness tourism potentials of Chittagong, both inbound and outbound, The Bangladesh Monitor has taken the lead once again to organise an International Tourism Fair in Chittagong styled as Chittagong Travel Mart-2009.