THIS was the headline, published in the last page of a local English-language daily on June 15. The meaning of ‘mull’ in Cambridge Advanced Learner’s Dictionary is: ‘to think carefully about something for a long time’. Note the words ‘think’, ‘carefully’ and ‘long’ — all gives emphasis to long-term and careful thinking, not any action in any manner.
Given the above defined heading with the word ‘mulls, the saga of boosting tourism in all its aspect will be slowly and carefully thought over at least the next decade. Then the planning itself may take at least five years, if not more. Finally, getting down to ‘execution’ of the plan, we can easily earmark further ten years. So all said and done, the overall timeframe comes down to around thirty years, during the term of the next generation in government.
Meanwhile, as sure as day follows night, more human resources will be needed for all the slow and careful thinking, viewing and reviewing, by the departments concerned and the coordinating ministry, for all the invaluable paper work and legwork involved. At least a few score or more seminars, both at home and abroad, and hands-on study in different countries will be essential.
Needless to say, this will involve invaluable and countless file work, innumerable notes, observations and opinions and approvals, which are a must. For each file or noting, to move up and down and also laterally between various departments and ministries, each climb up and down the bureaucratic ladder from section officer to the secretary, and even minister, before some plan sees the light of the day, it could well be the calendar year 2032, if we are lucky. Hopefully, no long term planning will be involved; then we can see something on the ground by the year of the grace 2050. Meanwhile, let us wish ‘boosting tourism’, good luck and goodbye.
SA Mansoor
Dhaka