This year’s Eid-ul-Fitr holidays brought an exceptional boom to the tourism industry in Cox’s Bazar. According to tourism stakeholders, the extended holiday period resulted in an unprecedented influx of visitors, leading to a staggering Tk 600 crore in business transactions.
Throughout the extended break, major tourist hotspots were bustling with visitors. Popular destinations such as the Cox’s Bazar sea beach, Dariyanagar Tourism Village, Himchari Waterfall, Inani Rocky Beach, Patuaartek, Teknaf Zero Point, Sabrang Tourism Park, and the Adinath Temple in Maheshkhali saw a surge in tourist activity. The overwhelming crowd transformed these locations into vibrant hubs of activity.
Despite the massive gathering, no major accidents were reported apart from minor incidents. Tourism business owners saw exceptional profits, although some tourists complained about being overcharged.
Abu Morshed Chowdhury, President of the Cox’s Bazar Chamber of Commerce and Industries, stated, “On average, each tourist spent approximately Tk 7,000 per day. During the peak Eid days, this translated to nearly Tk 100 crore in daily transactions. Cumulatively, the total business during the holiday period reached around Tk 600 crore.”
Echoing this sentiment, Abul Kashem Sikder, President of the Cox’s Bazar Hotel-Motel Guesthouse Owners’ Association, noted that this year’s Eid break was unique due to an 11-day-long vacation, including government and weekend holidays. “Tourists started arriving from March 26, with many non-Muslim visitors arriving before Eid. From Eid day onwards, a diverse range of tourists flooded the town. Until Saturday, all hotels, motels, and cottages in the Kolatoli-Hotel-Motel Zone and along the Marine Drive Road were fully booked. The entire hospitality sector saw remarkable business,” he said.
However, Sikder added that many tourists struggled to find accommodations due to a lack of bookings, as demand far exceeded availability.
By Mohammad Morshed
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