Beza’s tourism park projects in Cox’s Bazar stall for nine years

Highlights:

• Beza's three Cox's Bazar tourism parks remain incomplete
• Sonadia Eco-tourism Park cancelled for biodiversity preservation
• Naf Tourism Park failed to attract private developers
• Sabrang Tourism Park delayed by infrastructure, erosion, weak prioritization
• $460 million pledged, but investors stalled without infrastructure
• Tourism experts urge prioritization, citing huge economic potential

Although the Bangladesh Economic Zones Authority (Beza) launched an ambitious plan in 2016 to build three tourism parks across nearly 11,000 acres in Cox's Bazar, nine years later, none are operational, one has been scrapped, and there are no clear completion timelines.

The original plan envisioned three tourism parks in Teknaf and Maheshkhali upazilas: Sabrang Tourism Park on 967 acres of land and Naf Tourism Park on 271 acres in Teknaf, and the Sonadia Eco-tourism Park on 9,467 acres in Maheshkhali.

The interim government has cancelled the Sonadia Eco-tourism Park project, citing the necessity for preservation and restoration of its environment and biodiversity. The land lease was also reclaimed from Beza.

Beza officials said the tourism park projects are not on its priority list.

Beza's efforts to find a developer for the Naf Tourism Park, located on Jaliar Dwip at the mouth of the Naf River in Teknaf, have failed. Last year, Beza sought expressions of interest for a public-private partnership (PPP) to develop the park, but no companies showed interest.

According to Beza officials, the park's master plan, approved by the government in 2020, includes plans for hotels, eco-cottages, a cable car, a hanging bridge, and a floating jetty. It also proposes a children's park, an underwater restaurant, and other entertainment facilities.

A Beza official, speaking anonymously, cited security concerns due to the island's proximity to Myanmar as the main reason for the lack of interest from potential developers in the PPP model.

Infograph: TBS

Sabrang Tourism Park faces delays

Sabrang Tourism Park is the most advanced of the three projects, but hotel and resort construction has been sluggish due to a lack of complete infrastructure development. The park is not on Beza's two-year priority list for zone development. Instead, it has a separate 10-year plan, which Beza says will give it the highest priority.

Beza officials said that land has been allocated to 28 investors across nearly 120 acres, with investment proposals amounting to approximately $460 million. Companies such as Ifad Group, DIRD Composite Textiles, Patwary Enterprise, East West Travels and Tours, and DIPTA Garments have acquired land for hotel construction. However, representatives from these firms claim they cannot start work because the necessary infrastructure is not in place.

Recent tidal surges and adverse weather have also damaged parts of the project's protective embankment. A Beza official said, on condition of anonymity, that a new analysis is underway to find a more sustainable solution to prevent coastal erosion at Sabrang Park. The project's master plan will be reviewed before land can be effectively handed over to investors for development.

Once complete, Beza believes Sabrang Tourism Park will be a new landmark for Bangladesh's tourism sector, creating around 35,000 direct and indirect jobs. The park's design includes a five-star hotel, eco-tourism facilities, a marine aquarium, sea cruises, a special reserved area for foreign tourists, and special travel arrangements to Saint Martin's Island.

In a recent meeting held at the Chief Adviser's Office, a decision was made for the Bangladesh Water Development Board, under the initiative of the water resources ministry, to undertake a project to construct a permanent dam to protect the Sabrang Tourism Park. 

The meeting also decided that Beza will initiate a separate project for constructing other developmental infrastructure for the park, and these construction works will begin after the dam is built.

Those in the tourism sector argue that despite having all the necessary attractions—rivers, sea, hills, forests, culture, and hospitality—Bangladesh lags behind its neighbours in attracting foreign tourists due to delays and poor project implementation

Prioritisation and policy gaps

Chowdhury Ashik Mahmud Bin Harun, executive chairman of both Bida and Beza, told TBS that Sabrang Tourism Park is a promising area for tourism. "However, we are currently focusing on developing five priority economic zones, which do not include Sabrang," he explained. 

"Work on the infrastructure at Sabrang is ongoing and must be developed sustainably. Once our five initial economic zones are well-established, we will shift our focus to the development of Sabrang," Ashik said.

The five zones prioritised for completion within the next two years are the National Special Economic Zone (NSEZ) in Mirsharai, the Srihatta Economic Zone, the Jamalpur Economic Zone, the Maheshkhali Economic Zone, and the Bangladesh Special Economic Zone, he added.

Those in the tourism sector argue that despite having all the necessary attractions—rivers, sea, hills, forests, culture, and hospitality—Bangladesh lags behind its neighbours in attracting foreign tourists due to delays and poor project implementation.

Mohiuddin Helal, a director at the Bangladesh Parjatan Corporation Board and editor of Parjatan Bichitra, told TBS that exclusive tourist parks like these could significantly boost foreign tourism. He urged policymakers to give such projects priority, emphasising their substantial economic impact.

"Until policymakers understand the overall economic development role of tourism, these projects won't get the priority they deserve," Helal said. "Tourism directly benefits our communities and rural economies. Unless we can perform a proper impact analysis to show these benefits, the government's planners won't be able to grasp their importance."