Saint Martin’s Island, Bangladesh’s only coral island, will reopen to tourists on November 1, with visits permitted until March 15 next year.
The island will allow a maximum of 3,500 tourists per day during the period.
Officials made the decisions at an inter-ministerial meeting on tourist access to the island on Sunday, October 25, at the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change. Under the decision, tourists can visit the island from November 1, 2026, to March 15, 2027.
The meeting decided that no vessel may operate to the island without approval from the Bangladesh Inland Water Transport Authority and the Department of Shipping. Tourist vessels must also comply with the prescribed regulations.
To protect the island’s environment, tourists will be charged an environmental conservation fee of Tk 100 per person. Necessary measures will be taken under the management rules issued by the Department of Environment.
Relevant authorities will enforce the directives on tourist numbers, vessel operations, and environmental conservation, as the meeting decided.
Cox’s Bazar Life Report
Photo: Tarekur Rahman
