Puja rush leaves hotels, resorts fully booked at tourist hotspots

Tourists are flocking to destinations across Bangladesh during the five-day Durga Puja holidays, pushing hotels and resorts towards full occupancy and leaving last-minute planners scrambling for a bed.

Gazipur, Cox's Bazar, Kuakata and Bandarban are among the hotspots as families and groups of friends make the most of the extended break.

The holiday began on Tuesday, with government employees on leave through next Saturday. Banks, financial institutions, the stock market, and courts are also shut, following the last working day on Monday.

Infographic: TBS

Private-sector employee MD Rahman learned first-hand how tight the market is. He had planned a family tour for the break but could not find a single vacant resort near Dhaka.

Even a friend who owns a resort in the capital could not conjure up a room, with every unit booked well in advance. After an extensive search, Rahman finally locked in a booking elsewhere.

Resorts around the capital are feeling the squeeze most. Bhawal Resort & Spa and Sarah Resort are fully booked for overnight stays through next Saturday, though some day-long packages remain available, while Dream Square Resort has a limited number of rooms left.

In Munshiganj, Dhali's Amber Nivaas has also reached full occupancy. "We cannot accommodate all the guests due to the huge demand.

The rush has pushed the resort to full occupancy throughout the holiday period," Mehzuba Islam Nahin, the resort's chief executive, told The Business Standard.

Industry insiders said most resort owners have decided against offering holiday discounts, with demand running this strong.

Cox's Bazar hotels 90% booked

Cox's Bazar is also experiencing a surge in visitors, with around 90% of hotel and motel rooms booked. Since Tuesday, tourists have crowded the beach to enjoy the sea, horseback riding, beach biking and jet skiing.

Abul Kashem Sikder, president of the Cox's Bazar Hotel-Motel Owners Association, said hundreds of thousands of tourists had arrived at the start of the holiday.

"We expect an average of 150,000 tourists to visit Cox's Bazar every day during the five-day holiday, bringing the total to more than 700,000," he said, adding that the city has more than 500 hotels, motels and cottages.

Visitors are also heading to Marine Drive, Himchhari waterfall, Dariyanagar, Inani and Patuartek. Authorities have strengthened security, with Sea-Safe lifeguards deployed at Laboni, Sugandha and Kalatoli beach points.

Additional Superintendent of Police Md Ahidur Rahman said tourist police and district police are working across the beach and other attractions to ensure visitors' safety. 

Md Mahmudur Rahman Sayem, assistant commissioner and executive magistrate of the district administration's tourism cell, said authorities are monitoring tourism businesses to prevent overcharging and harassment.

Kuakata hotels near full occupancy

Hotels in Kuakata are nearing capacity ahead of a two-day tourism carnival on October 23–24 organised by Bangladesh Parjatan Corporation, with providers asked to house law enforcement personnel deployed for the event.

MA Motaleb Sharif, president of the Kuakata Hotel-Motel Owners Association, told TBS most hotels had bookings, with major ones near 100% occupancy. "To mark the tourism carnival, we have reduced room rates by 50% at all hotels for October 23," he said.

The town has around 300 hotels, motels and guesthouses, 107 affiliated with the association, with capacity for an estimated 50,000 visitors. 

Sharif warned demand could outstrip supply, particularly among overnight travellers from Dhaka, Khulna and northern Bangladesh. His own Kuakata Guest House is largely booked.

Bandarban faces accommodation pressure

In Bandarban, most rooms at hotels, motels and resorts have reportedly been booked in advance, forcing walk-ins to settle for budget lodging or bunk with relatives.

Ishan Ahmed Rakib, who travelled to Sajek Valley in Rangamati with friends, said only a booking secured their preferred hotel. "Most resorts and hotels are fully occupied by tourists. As a result, food prices are also slightly higher than usual," he added.