Amidst hopes of a tourism revival, Cox’s Bazar, renowned for its title as the world’s longest natural sea beach, is gearing up to welcome a significant influx of tourists during the upcoming Eid-ul-Fitr holidays.
The past three months have witnessed a lull in tourist arrivals, attributed to various factors including tensions along the Bangladesh-Myanmar border, national elections, and frequent natural calamities. However, with the onset of Eid and Bangla New Year holidays, hoteliers and tour operators are optimistic about a turnaround in fortunes.
The government’s restriction on travel to St. Martin Island since February 10, due to security concerns near the Bangladesh border, has diverted many tourists away from Cox’s Bazar, impacting the region’s tourism industry.
During Ramadan, the beaches of Cox’s Bazar wore a deserted look, with a stark decline in tourist footfall. However, with an eight-day holiday period spanning Eid-ul-Fitr and Pahela Baishakh, tourism stakeholders are expecting a surge in visitors.
Renovation works are underway across various business establishments, including hotels, with a focus on enhancing facilities and ensuring safety measures such as installing fire extinguishing systems.
Despite efforts such as offering substantial discounts on room rents, hotel-motel owners struggled to attract tourists during Ramadan, leading to widespread vacancies and closures of restaurants.
However, with Eid on the horizon, many tourists have already made bookings in anticipation of the holiday season. Businesses are hopeful that the tourist influx will continue for at least a month after Eid.
In preparation for the expected surge in tourists, authorities have deployed additional security measures, including increased police presence and mobile courts to ensure safety and uninterrupted tourism activities.
As anticipation builds for the Eid holidays, stakeholders in Cox’s Bazar are gearing up for a much-needed boost in tourism, anticipating a revitalization of the region’s economy.
