Eid tourism: 'Monotony' outside Dhaka, 'confinement' within

Eid is no longer just about returning to one's ancestral home. Over time, Eid holidays have evolved into a significant period for domestic tourism. 

However, both the general public and industry experts argue that Eid tourism in Bangladesh has become constrained and monotonous.

Nazrul Islam, a 55-year-old senior executive at a corporate firm, had initially planned to travel abroad during the Eid break. 

He, however, ultimately decided to stay in Bangladesh. 

Despite this, he has no intention of travelling within the country or even stepping out in Dhaka on Eid day. 

Instead, he plans to spend the entire time with his family.

When asked why, he explained, "If you observe carefully, you will see that almost every festival in our country follows the same pattern. On Eid day, after the morning prayers and a family meal, where does one go? Either to a relative's house, a park, or a restaurant.

"This pre-scripted Eid experience, repeating year after year, does not happen in major cities abroad. Even leaving Dhaka is futile—after half a day, you are exhausted from seeing the same monotonous sights."

Mossabber Hossain, 72, reminisces about Eid celebrations in Dhaka, saying, "There used to be fairs in every neighbourhood, boat races in Old Dhaka, and horse races in open fields. But now, Eid has been reduced to strolling in parks and dining in restaurants."

A city of commercialism, not festivity

Discussing the limitations of Dhaka's Eid festivities, Adil Muhammad Khan, president of the Bangladesh Institute of Planners (BIP), commented, "Dhaka has become so commercialised that there is no room for non-commercial recreation. 

Many fields that once hosted fairs no longer exist. The canals that allowed for boat rides have been encroached upon. Water bodies have been filled in to construct towering commercial buildings, and now restaurants within these buildings have become the centre of Eid entertainment."

"Even parks have been taken over. Visit Dhanmondi Lake today, and you'll feel that the lake is secondary to the numerous restaurants that have sprung up along its banks. No one is planning for a vibrant Dhaka. Those who remain in the city for Eid are forced into a dull, repetitive celebration."

A lacklustre experience beyond Dhaka

Humayun Rashid, 32, visited Cox's Bazar last Eid with his family. 

He found the experience underwhelming. "You don't need more than two days to explore Cox's Bazar. Beyond the sea, the so-called entertainment options—boat rides, parasailing, horse riding—are overpriced and feel like a scam."

He added, "When tourists realise they are being exploited at every turn, they lose trust in these destinations. Last Eid, around 800,000 tourists flocked to Cox's Bazar. The beach was so crowded that it felt like a bustling fish market in Dhaka. Hotel room prices had skyrocketed, with simple meals costing several times their usual price. Why would people want to return to such a place?"

Despite these grievances, hotels in Cox's Bazar are already over 80% booked for this Eid, with remaining rooms expected to be reserved in the coming days. However, many travellers are once again complaining about inflated prices. Faisal, a tourist looking for a hotel room, found that a standard air-conditioned couple's room facing the sea cost Tk 8,000-9,000—almost double the usual rate.

Murshid Hossain, a former manager of a Cox's Bazar hotel and currently a general manager at a three-star hotel in Dhaka, explained, "During the off-season, hotels struggle to fill rooms even after offering discounts of over 50%. To sustain operations and pay staff salaries, they must charge higher rates during peak tourist seasons."

An unprepared tourism industry

Professor Muhammad Shoaib-Ur-Rahman from Dhaka University's Tourism and Hospitality Management Department believes Bangladesh's tourism industry is woefully unprepared.

"Every year, we hear that 1.5 million tourists travelled to different destinations during Eid, but there is no official data to back this claim. Unless we start planning tourism spots based on visitor numbers and redefine what constitutes entertainment, no real improvement will happen," he said.

He went on to say, "People visit Cox's Bazar and Bandarban once or twice but do not return. Meanwhile, places like Bali or Bangkok attract repeat visitors. The primary reason is that Bangladesh's tourist destinations offer a one-dimensional experience. Abroad, tourism integrates nature and human creativity to create diverse attractions. While one cannot fully explore Bangkok in two days, one can finish touring Cox's Bazar within a few hours."

He also warned that unchecked price hikes and syndicates are harming both tourists and locals. "As tourism causes the cost of goods to rise, locals develop a negative perception of visitors. This tension can eventually lead to security concerns."

Security concerns dampen travel plans

Security remains another major issue for Eid tourism this year. Due to recent incidents across various districts, many people are apprehensive about travelling. Ahmed Piyas, a 28-year-old NGO worker, had planned to visit Sajek with his wife but ultimately cancelled the trip.

"With the current security situation, we don't feel safe travelling alone. Our families have advised us to travel in groups to avoid potential risks," he added.

However, the Tourist Police claim they are taking extra measures to ensure safety. Superintendent of Police (Legal and Media) Khandaker Khalid Bin Noor stated, "We are working closely with the Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) and the army to maintain maximum security at all tourist spots. We are confident that visitors will be able to enjoy a trouble-free holiday."

He assured that tourists can seek help from designated officers wearing special vests and caps at key locations.

A sector in need of reform

While people's tastes and expectations have evolved, the same cannot be said for the country's tourism infrastructure. When asked about ongoing developments, Md Ataur Rahman, Joint Secretary (Tourism) at the Ministry of Civil Aviation and Tourism, admitted, "I do not have any updates at the moment. I can provide details after discussing this with the office."

Every year, millions of people crowd into Bangladesh's tourist destinations during Eid, only to return with stories of disappointment. Many are now opting for international destinations like Bali or Bangkok, while others, fatigued by the lack of variety, are choosing to stay in Dhaka. Tourism experts stress that unless Bangladesh revamps its tourism industry, this trend will only worsen.