Massive tourist rush in Cox’s Bazar next weekend expected

Around one million tourists are expected in Cox’s Bazar as the country will see a three-day vacation - two days weekend on Friday and Saturday and the next day on the occasion of International Mother Language Day on Sunday (February 21). Over 400 hotels and resorts have already been booked with guests and all air and bus tickets are sold out.

Officials concerned say tourist police and law enforcement agencies have taken all-out preparations to ensure the safety of the tourists amid the pandemic, as the coastal town braces for the influx of visitors.  Even all the tickets for the Saint Martin's Island-bound ships have also been sold.

The International Mother Language Day -- which is a public holiday -- on February 21 falls on a Sunday this year, coinciding with the weekly holidays on Friday and Saturday, and the three consecutive holidays are leading to the possible massive surge of tourists. Hotel prices have soared with the minimum price of a one night’s stay now starting from Tk3,000 to Tk7,000.

People concerned say, in addition to the popular tourist spots such as Laboni, Inani, Himchhori and others, various areas in the coastal district such as Saint Martin's Island, Dulahazra Safari Park, Radiant Fish World and many others are expecting a massive rush of tourists, therefore significant traffic jams and increase in prices of essentials are also expected -- apart from harassment of tourists.

This surge in tourist activity has followed the matter that the country is witnessing a fall in the number of daily Covid-19 cases and deaths -- leading to people fearing the pandemic less.

The daily test-positivity rate remained below 3% for nine consecutive days, with the overall infection rate standing at 14.09% as of Saturday. Until Saturday, Bangladesh recorded a total of 540,266 cases and over 8,200 deaths.

Sold out

Sultan Ahmed, in-charge of Greenline Paribahan’s Cox’s Bazar office, said: “There are no bus tickets available for February 19 till 21. Since there are holidays for three consecutive days, all tickets have been booked in advance.”  

Pradeep Chowdhury, general manager of the Sea World Hotel, said: “There are 245 rooms in our hotel; however, not a single one is free. All have been booked in advance. We are expecting at least one million tourists in Cox’s Bazar over the upcoming holidays.”

Hotel owners and flat renters said they were not expecting such a rush near the end of the season.

Cox's Bazar Coordinator of luxury ship Karnaphuli Express Hossainul Islam also added that 5,000 tickets for travelling from Cox’s Bazar to Saint Martin have already been booked in advance.

"Other ships are also seeing the same rush. As a result, many people won't be able to visit Saint Martin next weekend," he said.