Sustainable Tourism in Tanguar Haor: Exploring the Role of NRB Investments in Enhancing Resilience and Conservation

Abstract

Bangladesh has exceptional tourism assets. With historical and rich sites such as Cox’s Bazar, Chittagong Hill Tracts, and Sundarbans, this sector contributes 2–3 % of GDP to the national economy. Considering the case of Tanguar Haor in Sunamganj, this paper demonstrates how Non‑Resident Bangladeshi (NRB) investment aligned with sustainability principles can drive sustainable and resilient tourism development in environmentally vulnerable areas. Adopting a mixed‑methods design, the study comprises literature review, Focus Group Discussions (FGDs) among local stakeholders, Key Informant Interviews (KIIs) with NRBs, officials, and experts in the industry, and surveys targeting NRBs and residents. The evidence shows strong latent NRB interest in sustainable tourism ventures when credible opportunities, risk‑mitigation instruments, and streamlined procedures are present. The key findings of the study were that NRB was highly distributed in terms of country of residence and profession, etc. Given current remittance patterns, investment capacities range from micro to large scale and include possibilities for eco‑friendly infrastructure development, powerlines, water projects, community‑based models, and quid pro quo conservation-linked heritage initiatives. Specific insights include a high interest in eco‑friendly and community‑based tourism, with cultural heritage and adventure tourism forming complementary niches. The study outlines how NRB capital, knowledge, and networks can reinforce national frameworks and enable community-centred, conservation‑minded development in Tanguar Haor. Some policies are recommended in various areas: simplifying investment, use of incentives for targeting the investments in sustainable projects, better market access and branding, stronger regulatory coherence with cooperation between public agencies along with the private sector, and Public-Private Partnerships (PPPs) to be more proactive; a structured diaspora engagement. This paper concludes that these actions can enable NRB involvement, deliver benefits of local livelihoods, and biodiversity conservation—placing Bangladesh more firmly on the responsible global tourism map.