At Pechar Dwip, one of the well-known beach areas of Cox’s Bazar, a group of young or Gen Z tourists has shared their observations on the city’s vast tourism potential, saying the time has come to position Cox’s Bazar on the world tourism map.
University students from Uttara in Dhaka—Sabbir Ahmed, Dipto, and Jubayer Ahmed—said Cox’s Bazar is not only a national asset but also a city with strong prospects for global tourism. “Cox’s Bazar has the world’s longest unbroken sea beach and immense natural beauty,” they said. However, in comparison to other international tourist destinations, Cox’s Bazar still lags significantly behind.
According to them, promoting Cox’s Bazar internationally requires active involvement from the younger generation. “We need to take responsibility ourselves—protecting our culture, preserving natural beauty and presenting the city properly to the world,” they said.
The young tourists also identified several areas requiring urgent attention to support sustainable tourism development. These include maintaining civic discipline, ensuring tourist safety, and improving the behaviour of some local service providers. “There are instances where tourists face harassment or pickpocketing, which creates a negative impression among foreign visitors and harms the image of Cox’s Bazar,” they said, adding that ensuring a safe and comfortable environment for tourists is essential.
Sabbir, Dipto, and Jubayer stressed that youth-led innovation and fresh ideas are crucial for the city’s future. “To develop Cox’s Bazar as a true tourism city, youth participation, new planning, and public awareness are indispensable. It should be built not only as a destination for visitors, but also as a source of national pride,” they said.
The tourism hub views its observations as a timely reminder. With its rural charm, vast coastline, and natural beauty, Pechar Dwip—and Cox’s Bazar as a whole—could become far more attractive to international tourists if conservation and promotion efforts are properly implemented.
Mohammad Morshed
Photo: Hussain Shetu
