Freshly caught and fried seafood has become a major attraction for tourists visiting the country’s only coral island, Saint Martin’s, where restaurants let tourists choose their fish and watch it being cooked.
Just a two-minute walk from the island’s jetty, rows of restaurants display different varieties of fresh marine fish for tourists. Tourists can select their preferred fish, which is then fried or cooked in front of them.
The fresh seafood and live cooking experience add to the enjoyment of their trips.
Tourist Sumaiya said the fish looked fresh and attractive.
“What I appreciate most is that the fish we choose is fried right in front of us. It makes the food more appealing,” she said.
Another visitor, Arfatul Islam, said watching fresh fish being fried was enjoyable. He particularly liked the taste of hilsa and coral fish, though he found the prices somewhat high.
Abdul Hakim, a restaurant owner on the island, said fishermen supplied fresh catches to almost every restaurant in the area in the morning and at different times of the day.
The fish are displayed for tourists, who can choose what they want to eat before the restaurants fry or cook it, he said.
A meal comprising rice, fish and vegetables, with several food items, generally costs Tk350 to Tk400 per person, he added.
The arrival of tourists has also created employment opportunities for young people on the island.
Local youth Ehsan said the growing number of visitors had opened up work opportunities for young people like him, benefiting both the island’s residents and its youth.
Meanwhile, the resumption of tourist travel during the season has created a festive atmosphere across Saint Martin’s. Tourists’ return after a prolonged break has brought renewed activity to local communities and businesses.
Residents’ enthusiasm for the return of tourists is also boosting tourist interest. Overall, tourism activities are gaining momentum on the country’s only coral island as the new season begins.
By Mohammad Morshed
Photo: Mohammad Morshed
