Bangladesh’s tourism industry is growing due to its historical and cultural background. There are also various beaches, mountains, and historical sites that attract tourists from various parts of the world.  

Due to the increasing number of tourists in the country, the travel agency business has become popular in Bangladesh. 

According to Statista, Bangladesh’s Travel and Tourism market is predicted to see huge growth. The industry is expected to grow at an annual rate of 10.27% from 2024 to 2029. By 2024, the market can generate revenue of US$2,123.00M as per the estimation.

What’s even more exciting is the growing role of online sales. By 2029, 61% of the total revenue in Bangladesh’s Travel and Tourism market will be generated online, showing the increasing importance of digital platforms in the tourism sector.

In this guide, you’ll learn how to start a travel agency business in Bangladesh in 2026, from business planning and registration to obtaining the necessary licenses and building supplier partnerships.

Also, we have something for you if you are looking to create your website at the end of this article.

Table of Contents

Key Highlights

  • A new travel agency should complete the required business registration, trade license, tax registration, and travel agency-related approval before selling packages, tickets, or travel services.

  • The cost to start a travel agency in Bangladesh can vary based on office setup, website development, supplier partnerships, marketing budget, working capital, and whether the agency offers direct ticketing or uses B2B suppliers.

  • Strong growth depends on niche focus, digital marketing, and building trust through proper licensing, customer service, and transparent operations.

Requirements to Start a Travel Agency in Bangladesh

To start a travel agency in Bangladesh, you need to register your business entity with the RJSC, obtain a Trade License, and secure the mandatory Travel Agency License from the Ministry of Civil Aviation and Tourism (MoCAT) or Bangladesh Tourism Board (BTB).

Mandatory Requirements:

  • Business Name and Legal Structure: Choose a business name and decide your legal structure. A sole proprietorship is simple for small setups, while a private limited company registered under the RJSC is better for credibility and growth.
  • Trade License: Obtain a trade license from your local City Corporation, Municipality, Pourashava, or Union Parishad. This is the basic legal approval required to operate any business in Bangladesh.

  • Tax Identification Number (TIN): Get a TIN from the National Board of Revenue (NBR) for tax compliance and official business transactions.

  • VAT or BIN Registration (If Applicable): Register for VAT or BIN if required under NBR regulations based on your business type and revenue activities.

  • Travel Agency Registration: Apply for registration or approval through the Bangladesh Tourism Board (BTB) or relevant authority to operate legally as a travel agency.

  • Registered Business Address: Maintain a valid business address as stated in your trade license and official documents. This address is used for verification and legal correspondence.

  • Business Bank Account: Open a business bank account to manage customer payments, supplier transactions, and official financial records.
  • ATAB Membership: Useful for travel agent credibility, networking, and industry recognition.
  • TOAB Membership: Useful if your business works as a tour operator or sells tour packages.
  • CAAB/IATA or Ticketing Supplier Access: Needed only if your agency wants direct ticketing or airline-related access. Many new agencies start through B2B suppliers or consolidators.
  • BTB Tour Operator or Tour Guide Registration: Relevant if your business also operates tours or provides guide services.
  • Umrah/Hajj Approval: Required separately if you want to operate religious tourism packages.

Note: Regulations, fees, bank guarantee requirements, and tax rules may change. Always verify the latest requirements with the relevant Bangladesh government authority before applying.

Steps to Start a Travel Agency in Bangladesh

To start a travel agency business in Bangladesh, you need to research the market, choose a profitable niche, register your business, get the required licenses, and set up your office or online booking system. After that, focus on building supplier partnerships, marketing your travel services, providing reliable customer support, and improving your operations as the business grows.

Step 1: Research the Travel Market

Before starting your travel agency business, you are supposed to do proper market research. It will include several factors, such as knowing who your audience is, what services they are looking for, who your competitors are, the climate of various tourist areas, and even the people who prefer traveling.

Travelers from various countries visit Bangladesh, so detailed research must be done about the travel market to gain a competitive advantage. Identify areas of opportunity by analyzing the strengths, weaknesses, services offered, and pricing strategy of various existing travel agencies.

Analyze various industry reports, statistics, and surveys to get knowledge about market size and growth potential. Tourism in Bangladesh is showing signs of expanding.

Firstly, you should gain hands-on knowledge and experience in the travel industry before establishing your travel agency.

Step 2: Choose a Niche for Your Tourist Agency

One of the key steps to building a profitable travel agency is selecting a niche that can help to separate you from the competition. You need to decide whether your travel agency business focuses on domestic tourism, international tours, or adventure trips.

If you offer specialized services, it will help your travel agency to stand out and attract a loyal customer base.  It also helps to make your marketing efforts more focused and effective, and build a stronger brand identity in the market. 

You need to check out your competitors to find out what they offer to the customers, so as to find out what niche they lack, which your agency can cover.

Types of Travel Agencies In Bangladesh

  • Inbound Travel Agencies: These agencies provide services to foreign tourists visiting Bangladesh, offering guided tours, transportation, and cultural experiences.
  • Outbound Travel Agencies: Primarily organize travel for Bangladeshi citizens going on international trips, including vacation packages, visa services, and ticketing. Agencies like Travelon Bangladesh.
  • Online Travel Agencies: Offer online booking for flights, hotels, and tours through websites and mobile apps.
  • Adventure Travel Agencies: These agencies specialize in organizing and managing adventure trips such as trekking, camping, and wildlife tours, targeting outdoor enthusiasts.

Step 3: Find a Unique Name and Register Your Business

Your travel agency’s name is the first impression customers will have, so make it unique and memorable. Once you choose a name for your travel agency business, check its availability with the Registrar of Joint Stock Companies and Firms (RJSC).

Gather all the documents required to register a business company and register your business. You can set it up as a  Sole Proprietorship, a partnership, or a Limited Company. Also, secure a domain name for your travel website to establish an online presence.

Pick a name that is relevant, concise, and travel-related. Selecting the perfect name for a travel agency is a critical step.

Step 4: Obtain Tourism License and Permits

It is important to make sure that you apply for the correct tourism license if you want to start a travel agency in Bangladesh. Your permit requirements will be different depending on whether you’re a Travel Agent or a Tour Operator.

You need the listed licenses to start a legal travel agency business in Bangladesh.

  • Trade License from your local municipality.
  • Association of Travel Agents of Bangladesh (ATAB) membership to build credibility and network with industry professionals.
  • International Air Transport Association (IATA) accreditation, especially if you will be booking flights for clients.
  • VAT Registration if applicable.

Make sure to get the necessary permits to avoid legal trouble.

Step 5: Create a Travel Agency Website

Most of the customers research online to get information related to traveling. So, your company should build a travel website that highlights Bangladesh’s attractions with high-quality visuals and compelling content.

Travel booking plugins like WP Travel can help you create clean, appealing, user-friendly websites that can simplify the overall booking process.

However, before creating a travel agency website, you should be aware of the development cost of a Travel website.

To learn more about how you can create your travel website using WP Travel, check out the video below.

Step 6: Set Up Your Tourist Agency Business

Opening a travel agency needs a well-planned, organized office setup and working environment. You need to make sure you have workspaces for your team, a comfortable area for clients, and all necessary office equipment.

Location matters too; being a well-known area will help your company bring in more customers. However, don’t underestimate the power of operating online, which is becoming increasingly important in today’s age.

Provide your team with powerful travel management software as well as secure payment gateways. Develop a range of tour packages and services that you, as a tour operator, can offer to meet diverse customer needs.

Step 7: Build Relationships and Partnerships

Most importantly, you need to focus on building relationships and networks with airlines, hotels, tour operators, and transportation services while starting a travel agency in Bangladesh.

Such collaborations not only broaden the scope of services offered but also induce an image of honesty, thus ensuring clients that their journeys will have the highest quality and are fully reliant on the agency.

Network and collaborate to gain a competitive advantage over your competitors in the long run.

Step 8: Do proper marketing of your business

The success of your travel agency depends on the marketing strategies. Use both online and offline platforms to reach potential clients. Advertising and marketing your business is important to maintaining and growing it.

SEO(Search Engine Optimization): Optimize your content and websites for better visibility and higher search engine rankings.

Social Media Marketing: Many social media platforms like Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram can be used to promote your travel agency and engage with your audience. 

Paid advertisements: Create various targeted campaigns to connect with specific customer segments that are interested in various travel offers. 

Traditional Marketing: Don’t forget to utilize traditional methods like brochures, travel fairs, and collaborations with other businesses to reach numerous nearby audiences.

Step 9: Focus on Customer Service

Reputation is everything in the travel business. Make sure your travel agency offers a wide range of customer services, whether it is in person, online, or over the phone.

You can offer flexible booking options, respond promptly to queries, and provide recommendations to satisfy your customers with your services. 

Planning on starting your own Travel Business?

Take a look at “Best Travel Agency Software for Travel Business”

Step 10: Continuous Improvement

Maintain consistency to ensure the long-term success of starting a travel agency business in Bangladesh. Stay up to date with some of the emerging changes in the travel industry.

You need to adjust and alter your operations and market approaches to respond to the changes and meet legal requirements. You can learn from your past mistakes to improve your business, listen to your customers, and stay current on travel trends.

Some of the areas to focus on to survive as a travel agency are:

  • Customers should be asked for feedback frequently.
  • Analyze and improve your company’s work.
  • Stay up-to-date on what is happening in travel.
  • Present new ideas to your team.

You may also read: How to Open a Travel Agency in Dubai, UAE?

How Much Does it Cost to Set Up a Travel Agency in Bangladesh?

The cost to set up a travel agency in Bangladesh typically ranges from BDT 4,00,000 to BDT 34,50,000+, depending on the scale of the business. A lean startup can begin with around BDT 4–9 lakh, while a standard setup usually requires BDT 9–17 lakh, and a full-service agency with airline ticketing and stronger operations may go beyond BDT 30 lakh. The final cost depends on your location, business model, services offered, and how much you invest in office setup, licensing, marketing, and working capital.

Expense Category Lean Startup Standard Setup Full-Service Agency
Company Registration (RJSC) BDT 15,000 – 25,000 BDT 25,000 – 40,000 BDT 40,000 – 60,000
Trade License BDT 5,000 – 10,000 BDT 10,000 – 15,000 BDT 15,000 – 20,000
Travel Agency Registration + Deposit BDT 60,000 – 100,000 BDT 100,000 – 150,000 BDT 150,000 – 250,000
VAT / TIN Setup BDT 2,000 – 5,000 BDT 5,000 – 10,000 BDT 10,000 – 15,000
Office Rent (6 months advance) BDT 60,000 – 120,000 BDT 120,000 – 200,000 BDT 200,000 – 400,000
Office Setup BDT 50,000 – 100,000 BDT 100,000 – 200,000 BDT 200,000 – 400,000
Website / Booking System BDT 25,000 – 60,000 BDT 60,000 – 120,000 BDT 120,000 – 250,000
Marketing & Branding BDT 20,000 – 50,000 BDT 50,000 – 100,000 BDT 100,000 – 300,000
TOAB / ATAB Membership BDT 0 BDT 50,000 – 100,000 BDT 100,000 – 150,000
Working Capital BDT 200,000 – 400,000 BDT 400,000 – 800,000 BDT 800,000 – 1,500,000
Total Estimated Cost BDT 437,000 – 870,000 BDT 920,000 – 1,735,000 BDT 1,735,000 – 3,345,000+

You may also read: How to Start a Travel Agency in Vietnam?

Conclusion

In summary, starting a travel agency business in Bangladesh is an exciting journey that requires proper planning and execution. 

Every step is crucial to your success, from market research and choosing a niche to building a strong online presence. With dedication and smart strategies, your travel agency can thrive in this growing market.

Also, if you are thinking of starting a travel agency but do not know where to start, WP Travel is a plugin that allows you to create a fully functional tour/travel booking website within minutes. With WP Travel, you’ll be able to create your own travel agency website for less than $220 (WP Travel Pro $99 + Domain $10 to $20 + Hosting $100).

If your agency needs more advanced booking features, WP Travel Pro can help you manage tour packages, itineraries, pricing, inquiries, and customer bookings more efficiently. Besides that, you can also use WP Travel’s SEO package to improve your travel website’s visibility on search engines, attract more relevant visitors, and generate consistent leads for your travel business.

FAQs (Frequently Asked Questions)

How do I start a small travel agency?

You can start a small travel agency in six different steps: 
1. Begin by researching the market 
2. Learn the legalities and regulations 
3. Figure out the financing part 
4. Work on building long-term partnerships
5. Set up the right infrastructure 
6. Market your agency

How to get a travel agency license in Bangladesh?

You can start a travel agency in Bangladesh easily if you follow a few key steps:
1. Register the type of company with the proper authorities.
2. Obtain a Civil Aviation Travel Agency License from the Ministry of Tourism.
3. Take a trade license.
4. Join the Association of Travel Agents of Bangladesh (ATAB).

How Can You Become an IATA Agent in Bangladesh?

You need a valid business license and an office that meets IATA standards. You’ll also need to pass an IATA exam with a score of 80% or higher. Once you meet the requirements, you can apply online to receive an IATA number upon approval, allowing you to book flights for your clients.

Is it possible to start an online travel agent business?

Yes, it is possible to start an online travel agency. You can create a fully functional website where customers can book tour packages, flights, and hotels online.