With tourist arrivals picking up during the monsoon, government employees are set to get another opportunity to enjoy a four-day holiday by taking just one additional day off. Tourism businesses in Cox’s Bazar are hoping the long weekend will bring another influx of tourists to the country’s premier beach destination.
According to the government holiday calendar for 2026, Wednesday, August 26, is a public holiday marking Eid-e-Miladunnabi. If government employees take leave on Thursday, August 27, they can enjoy four consecutive days off, including the weekly holidays on Friday and Saturday, August 28 and 29.
The extended break has raised expectations among hotel, motel, and guesthouse owners and beachside businesses in Cox’s Bazar that tourist arrivals will increase. Industry insiders said interest in visiting the resort town during the monsoon is also growing, with tourists keen to experience the sea and nature in their rain-soaked form.
Abul Kashem Sikder, president of the Cox’s Bazar Hotel-Motel Guest House Owners Association, said Cox’s Bazar remains one of the first choices for tourists whenever there is a long holiday.
“Tourists can enjoy four consecutive days off if they can manage one day of leave this time. We hope the number of tourists will increase during the holiday and that will bring beneficial business for us,” he said.
Cox’s Bazar also saw a notable tourist presence during the holiday marking the July Mass Uprising Day on August 5. Although offices were open the following Thursday, the holiday combined with the weekly Friday-Saturday break encouraged many tourists to visit the beach town.
Businesspeople expect the upcoming four-day break to bring renewed activity to hotels, motels, restaurants, tourist attractions and businesses around the beach.
Sayeed Alamgir, public relations officer of Ocean Paradise Hotel & Resort, said bookings had also been strong ahead of the upcoming holiday.
“Like the holiday for the July Mass Uprising Day, we have received excellent bookings this time as well. Around 80 per cent of our rooms have already been booked in advance. We keep the remaining rooms as backup,” he said.
Rana Karmakar, manager of Mermaid Beach Resort in Pechardwip along the Marine Drive, said the resort was fully prepared to welcome tourists during the holiday.
“As an eco-resort, we cannot offer all our rooms for booking. Some are under construction, and some are kept as backup. Around 50 per cent of our rooms have already been booked, and we expect bookings to reach around 70 per cent,” he said.
Mohammad Osman Gani, supervisor and senior lifeguard of Sea-Safe Lifeguard, said tourist presence on the beach was currently moderate but increased significantly during holidays.
“The number of tourists increases whenever there is a holiday. During those times, our workload increases significantly,” he said.
With the monsoon sea turning rough, rain washing over the beach and the surrounding landscape becoming lush green, tourism stakeholders are expecting Cox’s Bazar to draw more tourists during the upcoming long weekend.
By Abdur Rashid Manik
Photo: Abdur Rashid Manik
