Cox’s Bazar recorded a significant surge in tourism during the seven-day Eid holiday, with an estimated Tk 580 crore generated in the sector, said the stakeholders involved in the tourism sector.
They also said that from March 19, marking the start of the Eid holiday, to March 25, at least 580,000 tourists visited the world’s longest natural sea beach.
Abdul Shukkur, president of the Cox’s Bazar Chamber of Commerce and Industry, said the tourism sector had regained strong momentum after more than a month.
“The Tk 580 crore turnover has boosted all related sectors, including accommodation, transport, food, entertainment and retail,” he added.
He also said that improved services, easier transportation and reduced airfares would make the sector more sustainable.
With the addition of the Independence Day holiday on March 26 and the weekend break, the number of visitors is expected to exceed 600,000 by March 28. In that case, total commerce could surpass Tk 600 crore, the sector people expressed hope.
A visit to key beach points, including Laboni, Sugandha and Kolatoli, on Thursday showed overwhelming crowds of tourists of all ages. Some were bathing in the sea, while others were sitting on the sand enjoying the sunset.
However, the large influx of visitors has led to severe traffic congestion in the hotel-motel zone and surrounding roads. Despite keeping long-distance buses at terminals, the influx of private cars and medium-sized vehicles into the town exacerbated commuter difficulties. Slow-moving traffic was observed throughout the day at Kolatoli intersection, the bypass road and Dolphin intersection.
Regarding safety, Sea Safe Lifeguard Service worker Zainal Abedin Bhutto said that all beach points were experiencing heavy tourist presence and that lifeguards remained on high alert.
Officer-in-charge of Tourist Police Cox’s Bazar Zone, Mohammad Kefayet Ullah, said that most of the more than 500 hotels and motels had been fully booked a week in advance. He also mentioned that CCTV surveillance had been implemented at key tourist spots.
Superintendent of Police ANM Sazedur Rahman said that additional personnel, including female police officers, had been deployed at the beach to manage the increased number of visitors, with plainclothes monitoring also in place.
Deputy Commissioner Md A Mannan said ensuring a safe and comfortable travel experience for tourists remained the administration’s top priority. Mobile courts were also operating in the field to prevent any untoward incidents.
By Mohammad Morshed
Photo: Mohammad Morshed
