Tourist travel to St Martin's suspended for 9 months from tomorrow
The restrictions will remain in effect until November 2025, as per government directives announced on 22 October last year to protect its environment and biodiversity
Tourist travel to St Martin's, Bangladesh's only coral island located 9 km south of the tip of the Cox's Bazar-Teknaf peninsula, will be suspended for nine months starting tomorrow (1 February), according to a decision from the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change.
The restrictions will remain in effect until November 2025, as per government directives announced on 22 October last year to protect its environment and biodiversity.
As per the directives, in November, no tourists were allowed to stay overnight on the island. In December and January, the daily tourist limit was capped at 2,000. In February, no tourists will be allowed to bolster clean-up efforts on the island. Usually, the government suspends tourist travel to the island from March every year.
Generally, the island's tourist season runs from October 1 to March 31, but this year, travel has been limited to the earlier date due to new regulations.
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Cox's Bazar Additional District Magistrate, Imran Hossain, said that ships will be allowed to operate to St. Martin's until January 31. "After that, no tourist ships will be allowed to operate."
The decision has raised concerns among local businesses, as the tourism sector plays a vital role in the island's economy.
MA Abdur Rahim Jihadi, President of the St. Martin Hotel-Motel-Resort Owners Association, voiced concern about the potential impact on local residents. "No such crisis has occurred on the island before," he said.
"If tourists stop coming now, it will create various challenges for the local population. Hundreds of people are involved in the tourism business, and we are requesting that the government reconsider the decision, at least allowing tourists to visit until February 28," he added.
