Today, Cox's Bazar is one of the most-visited tourist destinations in Bangladesh. It has yet to become a major international tourist destination, and has no international hotel chains, due to lack of publicity and transportation. Recently the Bangladesh Government formed the Tourist Police unit to better protect local and foreign tourists, as well as to look after the nature and wildlife in the tourist spots of Cox's Bazar. Triple-9 had done some work to expand the tourism in Cox's Bazar Area. This paper was the initial study for this work.

1.
copyright@nailabari
1
The Potential of the Street Food Market
in Tourism in Bangladesh
The Risk of Unhygienic Food
Area: Cox’s Bazaar, Bangladesh
Introduction
The Cox’s Bazaar sea beach is a wonder of Bangladesh. Cox’s Bazaar is a brilliant
opportunity for tourism in Bangladesh. While international tourists come to visit the
sea beach all around the year, there is a particular influx in their numbers during the
time from October to February. Residential hotels in Cox’s Bazaar are highly
successful commercial ventures, but there are very few entertainment opportunities
for the tourists by comparison. A market for street food has emerged in Cox’s
Bazaar since August 2012, aimed primarily at tourists. At the time of its inception,
this seafood-centric market focused on serving kerosene stove-fried crabs to tourists
in tins. This booming business has now moved to Laboni Beach. Numerous varieties
of fish are sold there every afternoon from carts, the prices of which range from
BDT 30 to BDT 400.
Many tourists flock to these carts to taste the fish. Giant lobsters, which usually cost
above BDT 1,400 at five-star hotels, are sold here for only BDT 400. The deep-fried
seafood delicacies are absolutely delicious, but how hygienic are they? In this
context, however, the hygiene factor takes a backseat to the market system, which is
very attractive to the tourists. Gossiping while enjoying easily affordable food under
an open sky is an established tradition in Bangladesh, as is evident in local tea-stalls
and the fried food shops of Old Dhaka.
In Bangkok, the street food industry has become so well-established that it has
become universally acceptable to tourists from all around the world. The street food
industry in Bangladesh can similarly benefit if nurtured and controlled properly, and
take the tourism industry to new heights of success.

2.
copyright@nailabari
2
Objectives
1. To identify the locations where street food markets are located;
2. To improve the quality of the street food;
3. To sell food from roving vehicles as new special attractions;
4. To eliminate unemployment;
5. To organize the present street food in new ways;
6. To make tourist spots more attractive.
Current Situation
Upon observation, the current situation appears to be as follows:
1. The carts from which street food are sold are open
2. The oils and spices which are used for preparing street food are not
hygienic
3. Major hotels have targeted the food carts for elimination, as they are
driving customers away from the hotels’ own restaurants
4. New markets are being created in Bangladesh
Figure
1:
Street
Food
Market

3.
copyright@nailabari
3
Figure
2:
Culinary
Process
of
Frying
Fish
Figure
3:
Open
and
Van
Market

4.
copyright@nailabari
4
Figure
4:
Fried
fish
Opportunities
1. If food is affordable, it would appeal to many tourists
2. In a location like Cox’s Bazaar, open-air food stalls are considered highly
attractive
3. Development of new fish markets and new entertainment opportunities
4. Elimination of some employment
5. The street food vendors can be trained on the virtues of healthy food and
the ways to prepare them, raising hygiene levels of locally available street
food
What do we need from Foreign donor agencies?
There is a particular influx in the number of tourists visiting Bangladesh during the
time period from October to February. Many of these tourists are foreigners,
including Koreans, who are interested in visiting Cox’s Bazaar. These tourists need
hygienic, delicious food at affordable prices. Thus, both tourists and local
entrepreneurs can benefit through street food. A feasibility study is needed to
explore the potential of the street food market. It is crucial that a degree of
elementary awareness is developed regarding safe, hygienic food in the context of
the present. However, if the food is overpriced or unhygienic, it would not be

5.
copyright@nailabari
5
beneficial for either party. If any donor agencies provide a helping hand with this
feasibility study, then foreign and Bangladeshi tourists alike can reap its benefits, and
the threat posed by unhygienic food in the tourism sector would subside.
Why is this so important for us?
The Korean/Canadian/US food industry is a highly developed one, and it ranks far
above Bangladeshi in terms of food quality, ingredients, preparation and
presentation. There are also many Korean/Canadian/US delicacies which contain
ingredients that can boost the immune system of the human body upon
consumption. These foods can keep many medical conditions, such as diabetes, high
cholesterol and hypertension, under control. Long-time Korean/Canadian/US
expatriates are also likely to find this prospect highly appealing. There are no
roadside restaurants in Cox’s Bazaar where quality food can be availed at affordable
prices. For this reason, the development of a self-sustaining street food market is
critically important. This is also a great opportunity to increase the spread of seafood
in Bangladesh and increase its appeal to the people through attractive presentation.
Therefore, in a nutshell, the reasons are:
- Preparation, presentation and popularization of new delicacies
- Delicious and hygienic food for tourists from Korea/Canadian/US and other
nations alike
Plan of Action
1. Identification of street food market locations and determining their
marketability through systematic stratification
2. Creating awareness programs focused on street food hygiene
3. Licensing street food vendors through a government program
4. Waste cleanup and disposal to prevent the beaches from being polluted
5. Arranging for model carts to be prepared for the first 50 vendors,
observing them in proper operation for 3 years, studying the problems
which they are faced with, and solving them
Benefits

6.
copyright@nailabari
6
For Korean expatriates and tourists:
- creation of new entertainment opportunities
- possibility of fusion between traditional Bangladeshi and Korean delicacies
- availability of hygienic and delicious seafood on the beaches of Cox’s Bazaar
For Bangladeshis:
- the introduction of a successful ready-food market in Bangladesh
- the unemployment crisis in Bangladesh can be partially abated
- Cox’s Bazaar will gain additional popularity and credibility as a tourist spot apart
in addition to its original status as the world’s longest beach
Time Period
1 year for feasibility study
Conclusion
If Cox’s Bazaar, one of the most prosperous tourist spots of Bangladesh, is fully
imbued with the eating traditions of Bangladesh, Bangladesh’s tourism industry can
flourish greatly. However, in order to achieve this, the quality and hygiene level of
Bangladesh’s street food must be improved considerably. The aim of this movement
would be to develop new markets, not to compete with major hotels. This would
bring new perspectives to the local tourism industry as well as create scopes of
employment for many people, opening up new horizons of opportunity for the
nation.
Name: Naila Momotaz Bari
E-mail: coo@heightsgroupbd.com
Phone no: +8801985444999
Address: 42/2 Paribag Road, Banglamotor, Dhaka