Bangladesh's first national tourism awards: who won, and what they signal
The Bangladesh Tourism Board gave its first Bangladesh Tourism Award on World Tourism Day 2026, honouring 16 hotels, operators, entrepreneurs and professionals. The full list, and what it says about the sector's priorities.
For the first time, Bangladesh's tourism sector has a national award of its own. The Bangladesh Tourism Board (BTB) presented the Bangladesh Tourism Award on 3 October 2026, as part of World Tourism Day, at the Bangladesh-China Friendship Conference Centre in Dhaka.
How the award came about
BTB announced the award at a press conference in Agargaon on 26 September 2026. It said the award was meant to encourage the protection of the environment and cultural heritage, and to recognise individuals, institutions, entrepreneurs and initiatives contributing to sustainable development, service quality, innovation, digital transformation, local community participation, women and young entrepreneurs, and heritage conservation. Thirteen categories were announced at the time.
At the ceremony, 16 individuals, organisations and initiatives were honoured. According to reports, winners were selected by a jury drawn from government and the private sector from nominations in each category.
This year's World Tourism Day theme in Bangladesh was digital transformation and the future of tourism through artificial intelligence.
The winners
Hotels and accommodation
- Five-star hotel of the year: InterContinental Dhaka
- Four-star hotel of the year: Hotel Agrabad
- Three-star hotel of the year: Hansa – A Premium Residence by UHPLC
- Homestay of the year: Charubala Homestay and Tours
Tour operators and attractions
- Best inbound tour operator: Bengal Tours Ltd
- Best domestic tour operator: ShareTrip Ltd
- Best amusement park: Fantasy Kingdom Complex
- Best tourist vessel: MV Malangi
- Best MICE enterprise: Sevor International Ltd
Innovation and entrepreneurship
- Sustainable tourism initiative of the year: Shakawath's Six Control Points for Food Cost Optimization (Md Shakawath Hossain)
- Young tourism entrepreneur of the year: Mehedi Hasan, Bangladesh Eco Adventure
- Best female tourism entrepreneur: Nurani Sharmin Afroz
- Best tourism technology enterprise: BD Tickets
Individuals
- Tourism content creator of the year: Abu Mohammad Salahuddin (Sumon)
- Best tour guide: Md Sarowar Jahan
- Best tourism journalism: Md Naim Ul Islam Abir
What the list signals
The categories say as much as the winners. Alongside the expected hotel and tour operator awards, the board chose to recognise a homestay, a tourist vessel, a technology platform, a content creator, a tour guide and a journalist. That reflects how Bangladeshis actually travel today: booking online, choosing trips from videos and social media, and increasingly looking for local stays and experiences outside the big hotels.
The separate awards for young and female entrepreneurs, and for a sustainability initiative, point to where the board wants the sector to grow.
The awards also join a calendar that already includes industry-run recognitions, such as the Tour Operators Association of Bangladesh's international tourism awards and the privately organised Bangladesh Travel, Tourism and Hospitality Awards. A government award adds weight. The test will be whether it becomes an annual, transparent process with published criteria, so that winning it means something to travellers as well as to the industry.
FAQ
What is the Bangladesh Tourism Award?
A national award launched by the Bangladesh Tourism Board in 2026 to recognise individuals, organisations and initiatives in the tourism sector. It is the first award of its kind given by the board.
When was the first Bangladesh Tourism Award given?
On 3 October 2026, as part of World Tourism Day, at the Bangladesh-China Friendship Conference Centre in Dhaka.
How many winners were there?
Sixteen individuals, organisations and initiatives were honoured, although 13 categories were announced when the award was launched.
Who won best five-star hotel at the Bangladesh Tourism Award 2026?
InterContinental Dhaka.
Sources
- Report on the launch of the Bangladesh Tourism Award and World Tourism Day programme, bdnews24.com (Bangla), 26 September 2026
- দেশের বর্ষসেরা ৫ তারকা হোটেল ইন্টারকন্টিনেন্টাল ঢাকা, The Daily Star Bangla, 3 October 2026
- আজ দেওয়া হবে বাংলাদেশ পর্যটন পুরস্কার, পাচ্ছেন ১৬ ব্যক্তি, প্রতিষ্ঠান ও উদ্যোগ, Prothom Alo, 3 October 2026
- TOAB International Tourism Award 2026, BSS, 18 May 2026
Also available in Bangla: প্রথম বাংলাদেশ পর্যটন পুরস্কার: কারা পেলেন, কী বার্তা দিল
