http://reposit.library.du.ac.bd:8080/xmlui/xmlui/handle/123456789/186 2026-08-24T02:58:52Z 2026-08-24T02:58:52Z Akter, Sonia http://reposit.library.du.ac.bd:8080/xmlui/xmlui/handle/123456789/4881 2026-08-09T05:02:12Z 2026-08-09T00:00:00Z

Riverine Tourism Development in Bangladesh: An Empirical Study Akter, Sonia Bangladesh, a riverine country with over 700 rivers, tributaries, and canals, has long depended on its waterways for livelihoods, communication, and the preservation of natural beauty and cultural identity. These rivers have shaped the country’s geography, culture, economy, and social life for centuries. Within this context, riverine tourism presents a high-potential avenue to diversify Bangladesh’s tourism sector by connecting visitors directly with rivers and their surrounding environments. While the country is widely recognized for coastal, hill, and heritage tourism, riverine tourism remains largely underdeveloped. This study investigates the scope, challenges, and sustainability dimensions of riverine tourism, emphasizing its contributions to socio-economic empowerment, community development, cultural preservation, and environmental sustainability. Guided by the positivist paradigm, the study employed a quantitative research approach to ensure objective, replicable, and evidence-based findings. Primary data were collected through structured questionnaires, semi-structured interviews, focus group discussions, field observations, and case studies across key riverine destinations. A purposive sample of respondents including tourists, local residents, tourism service providers, and policymakers was used to ensure representativeness. Secondary data were drawn from government reports, policy documents, academic literature, and comparative case studies from other riverine countries. The survey instrument was validated for content and construct validity, and reliability were confirmed via Cronbach’s Alpha. Data were analyzed using descriptive and inferential statistics, including frequencies, percentages, means, and regression analysis, ANOVA and diagnostic tests. Findings indicate that riverine tourism can significantly enhance national economic development, diversify livelihoods, and create local employment. Activities along rivers provide income opportunities for boat operators, guides, artisans, hospitality providers, and associated businesses such as restaurants, handicraft shops, and homestays. Riverine tourism also fosters cultural preservation by promoting traditional practices, festivals, boat-building techniques, indigenous music, and local heritage, while facilitating cultural exchange and reinforcing community identity. Environmentally, sustainable river-based tourism encourages responsible waste management, protection of river ecosystems, and development of eco-parks and regulated recreational activities. iv Key challenges include inadequate infrastructure, limited safety measures, poor transport connectivity, weak policy support, low promotion, and limited community engagement, alongside environmental threats such as pollution and riverbank erosion. To address these challenges, the study advocates for a holistic and integrated approach to riverine tourism development. Key recommendations include strategic investment in infrastructure to improve accessibility and service quality; capacity-building programs to empower local communities to actively participate in tourism management; the implementation of eco-friendly practices to minimize environmental impacts; policy reforms to provide clear regulations, incentives, and frameworks for sustainable tourism; enhanced collaboration among stakeholders, including government agencies, private operators, and local communities; and targeted domestic and international marketing strategies to increase awareness and attract tourists. With strategic planning, investment, and active stakeholder participation, riverine tourism has the potential to become a cornerstone of Bangladesh’s sustainable tourism sector. By balancing economic growth with cultural preservation and environmental conservation, the development of riverine tourism can foster inclusive development, improve livelihoods, promote ecological sustainability, and position Bangladesh as a unique destination for nature-based and cultural tourism experiences. This thesis is submitted for the degree of Master of Philosophy.

2026-08-09T00:00:00Z Chowdhury, Tahia http://reposit.library.du.ac.bd:8080/xmlui/xmlui/handle/123456789/4880 2026-08-09T04:59:20Z 2026-08-09T00:00:00Z

Sustainable Livelihood and Rural Tourism Development: A Case Study of Bhola District in Bangladesh Chowdhury, Tahia Tourism is widely acknowledged as a tool of community development, while the role of rural tourism in securing sustainable livelihoods gained traction in contemporary rural tourism scholarship. Scholars recognized the role of community capitals and/or livelihood assets as a mediating force for activating the transformation of rural livelihoods. Evidence indicates that marginalized communities face capacity constraints, where institutional actors frequently serve a mediating and catalytic function. The role of community capitals and/or livelihood assets is commonly used to conceptualize how the rural livelihood can be shaped by utilizing such capitals, and often the analytical frame evolved by connecting several governance mechanisms, introducing community-based participative approaches, and even connecting institutional mechanisms. In this regard, the critical impacts of the capitals on community livelihood have been investigated in numerous studies; however, the internal influence of these capitals remains largely unattended. To address this research gap, this study investigated which capitals play the transformative role and activate remaining community capitals. Accordingly, this study examined which capitals play the transformative role and thus facilitate sustainable livelihood. From the literature, six capitals or livelihood assets (natural, human, social, built, economic, and institutional) were considered for investigation within a case context of Char Kukri Mukri, situated in the Bhola district of Bangladesh. Using a qualitative approach, the study applies the Sustainable Livelihood Framework for Tourism (SLFT) to a remote case study location named Char Kukri Mukri, Bangladesh. Findings demonstrated the role of institutional capital as a decisive factor in the rural context, while highlighting the role of institutions and NGOs in educating residents, raising awareness, facilitating market access, and providing the practical support necessary for community members to engage in alternative livelihoods such as tourism. This study utilized 27 semi-structured interviews to address the primary research objective. Findings from conducting thematic analysis of the qualitative data show that institutional (formal) and social (informal) capitals perform a vital transformative role by systematically (re)connecting and mobilizing the four foundational capital bases, such as natural, human, built, and economic, in a destination such as Char Kukri Mukri. The findings specifically underscore the instrumental role of non-governmental organizations (NGOs) in facilitating the transition toward tourism as a viable and sustainable livelihood alternative. By acting as intermediaries, these organizations bridge the gap between local marginalized populations and broader economic opportunities. Ultimately, the insights derived from this research offer significant viii value for place-based development planners and policymakers, providing a nuanced understanding of how supportive institutional frameworks can be leveraged to foster positive and equitable livelihood outcomes within vulnerable rural populations. These insights offer practical implications for development planners and policymakers seeking to design supportive interventions that enhance rural resilience and inclusive tourism development. This thesis is submitted for the degree of Master of Philosophy.

2026-08-09T00:00:00Z Muhsina, Kamarun http://reposit.library.du.ac.bd:8080/xmlui/xmlui/handle/123456789/4709 2025-07-08T10:09:50Z 2025-07-08T00:00:00Z

Scenarios of Tourism in Bangladesh: A Cultural Perspective Muhsina, Kamarun Cultural tourism has huge impacts on the tourism industry of destination countries. Bangladesh is of no exception to this. Cultural tourism, defined as travel that authentically represents the layers of a place and its people, helps make cross-cultural exchange, accelerate economic development, and create global peace and harmony. Despite Bangladesh's rich cultural heritage, including historical sites, festivals and arts, the country has not been able to attract a significant number of cultural tourists. This research addresses the challenges of cultural tourism development, dictates the ways of exploiting the opportunities of developing the in Bangladesh. These challenges include the lack of proper promotion, absence of community engagement, and poor cultural preservation system. Using data from four key tourist destinations (Dhaka, Cox's Bazar, Bandarban, and Sylhet), the study highlights the need for better management and strategies to promote cultural tourism development in Bangladesh. The findings emphasize the importance of cultural growth in enhancing tourist satisfaction and economic development. This research aims to provide policymakers, stakeholders, and local communities with insights for improving cultural tourism and bridging the existing research gaps in Bangladesh. Furthermore, this study explores the development strategies of cultural tourism in Bangladesh, focusing on variables such as cultural growth, tourist satisfaction, tourist arrivals, community engagement, and economic growth. Employing quantitative methods like Pearson Correlation, Multiple Regression, Path Analysis, and ANOVA, the research finds a significant positive relationship between these variables and cultural tourism development. Cultural growth is identified as critical for driving tourist satisfaction, increasing tourist arrivals, and engaging communities, which in turn fosters economic development. Despite Bangladesh’s rich cultural heritage, challenges such as inadequate promotion, lack of cultural preservation, and infrastructural limitations hinder the cultural tourism growth. The study also highlights the need for policy reforms, community engagement, and sustainable practices to overcome these obstacles. By emphasizing the relationships between cultural and economic growth, this research offers insights for policymakers and stakeholders to develop cultural tourism and enhance economic growth in Bangladesh. Further, research is recommended to refine the model by addressing the factors that did not show significant effects. This thesis is submitted for the degree of Master of Philosophy.

2025-07-08T00:00:00Z Most. Habiba http://reposit.library.du.ac.bd:8080/xmlui/xmlui/handle/123456789/4708 2025-08-20T09:58:01Z 2025-07-08T00:00:00Z

Community Development through Community Based Tourism: A Study on Bandarban in Bangladesh Most. Habiba Sustainable tourism development (STD) is suggested to decrease the destructive impacts of mass tourism development. There are many ways to achieve sustainable development of tourism, and community-based tourism (CBT) is one of them. CBT encourages the community people to take part in the process of tourism development, where the community provides all the facilities to the tourists. In CBT, the community's culture, tradition, authentic practices, local food and lifestyle are some of the appeals for the tourists. The indigenous community can operate the whole tourism development process with proper guidelines. In this way, all the monetary benefits of tourism can be fairly disseminated among the stakeholders and community members. Chittagong Hill Tracts (CHT) is the home to many tribal communities, and Bandarban is considered one of Bangladesh's most prominent tourist hubs for adventurous tourists. Bandarban has much to offer to tourists, from its natural to cultural attractions. As many tribal communities reside here and they have all the attractions to offer to the tourists, it certainly is the ideal place to develop CBT. Currently, in Bandarban, several CBT programs are operated by the local community or authority. This research aims to identify the significance of CBT in developing tourism sustainably. The researcher carried out a questionnaire survey with N=200, and all the respondents were from Bandarban areas. After analyzing the collected data and using SPSS software, it was found that the CBT initiatives prioritize environmental practices, community decision-making, and cultural preservation which altogether contribute to enhance sustainable tourism development in Bandarban significantly. vi CBT initiative fosters the local economic growth by creating employment opportunities for the locals, giving opportunities to set up new businesses, exploring opportunities to guide tours, creating opportunities to earn and save more, and by increasing the overall economic conditions of the households. A financial effect analysis of tourism has also been carried out and found that tourism has a substantial positive economic impression on the local community of Bandarban. Community engagement and participation are seen as contributors to different aspects of community development. If the host community is more engaged in the process, they can benefit the most from it. The benefit of CBT is especially significant, as it will be distributed equitably among the community. This study assumes that community involvement in CBT decision-making significantly contributes to a greater perceived positive impact on different aspects of community development, including financial opportunities, social services, environmental protection, and cultural preservation. After analysis, the study found that community engagement in CBT development positively impacts economic opportunities and social services. That means the more the community participates in decision-making, the more economic opportunity is created for the community, and they also get better social services. Although CBT development has vast potential in Bandarban, considering its attraction, there are some hindrances obstructing the development of CBT in Bandarban. After analyzing the literature and conducting the survey, this study summarizes some crucial challenges for CBT development in Bandarban, such as insufficient financial resources, limited tourism infrastructure, lack of skilled human resource, and regulatory or policy constraints. Also, some environmental concerns or preservation issues include deforestation, habitat loss, and pollution caused by tourism activities. Based on the analysis and challenges found, the researcher makes some recommendations at the end of this thesis. This thesis is submitted for the degree of Master of Philosophy.

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