Committee formed to regulate tourism at Saint Martin’s Island

The Ministry of Environment, Forest, and Climate Change has formed a committee to regulate tourism at Saint Martin's Island.

The convener of the committee will be executive officers of Cox's Bazar Sadar or Teknaf upazila, depending on the starting point of the tourist vessel, according to an office order signed by the ministry's Senior Assistant Secretary Sabrina Rahman on 19 November. 

"Necessary measures will be taken up under the ministry's directives," Additional District Magistrate (ADM) Nizam Uddin Ahmed said today (20 November).

The committee has been tasked with designating departure points for ships travelling to the country's only coral island.

The committee will ensure that only tourists with travel passes, obtained through an app developed by the Bangladesh Tourism Board, can board authorised vessels from the designated departure or entry points. 

They will also ensure that prohibited items such as polythene bags and single-use plastic products are not transported by tourists or authorised vessels, as per the ministry's directives. 

Additionally, the committee will maintain a register recording tourists' accommodation details and install billboards at departure and entry points on the island to inform tourists about permissible and prohibited activities. 

The Department of Environment's Cox's Bazar office will oversee overall communication and coordination, and the committee may co-opt additional members if necessary.

Earlier, on 22 October, the Ministry of Environment, Forest, and Climate Change decided to impose restrictions on travel to St Martin's. The ministry subsequently issued a circular on 28 October.

The circular stated that the Bangladesh Inland Water Transport Authority would issue permission for sea traffic to St Martin's with the consent of the environment ministry.

It also mentioned that tourists travelling to the island would not be allowed to spend the night there. Overnight stays would be permitted only in December and January, with a cap of 2,000 tourists per day during these months.

Additionally, the circular stated that no lights could be lit on the island at night, no noise pollution could be created, and barbeque parties were strictly prohibited.

Terming the decisions unreasonable, the island's residents, along with hotel and motel owners, restaurant operators, the Tour Operators Association, and thousands of officials and employees from various tourism-related organisations, have been staging continuous protests. 

Typically, the island's tourism season begins in late October, but this year, even by the end of November, the arrival of tourists has yet to start due to the restrictions.