Direct air links to be set up

Besides, the ministers also agreed on relaxing the existing visa processing system for the tourists in the member countries for ensuring their free movement within the Saarc states.

Addressing a press conference after the closing of the 2nd Saarc Tourism Ministers' Conference, State Minister for Civil Aviation and Tourism Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir announced the 12-point declaration, to be regarded as Cox's Bazar Declaration.

Prime Minister Khaleda Zia inaugurated the conference in the morning. Ministers and deputy ministers from five member countries joined the conference, while Indian High Commissioner to Dhaka Bina Sicri represented the Indian side. Nepalese minister could not attend the conference.

Other highlights of the declaration include setting up of separate immigration counters at the airports of the member states for Saarc country's citizens, providing special facilities on tours by Saarc students, special facilities on pilgrims, increasing cooperation among the member states in the development of human resources for tourism sector.

Besides, taking necessary measures in increasing government-private cooperation on the development of tourism sector and raising budget allocation for the sector were also highlighted at the declaration.

Under this declaration, experiences of tourism industries and hotel management of Saarc region will be exchanged between the member countries. Some special measures for Saarc tourism sector will be taken to attract international tourists in the region during their visits on the occasion of the World Cup Cricket 2011 to be held in the four Saarc states.

Pakistan's Tourism Minister Nilufar Bakhtiar, Sri Lanka's State Minister Arjuna Ranatunga, Maldives Deputy Minister Abdul Hamid Zakaria, Bhutan's Deputy Minister on National Environment Commission Dasso Nado Rinhen and Bangladesh State Minister Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir attended the conference.