After a 10-month lull in tourism, Saint Martin’s Island is preparing to welcome visitors again, with businesses making last-minute arrangements ahead of the new season.
Renovation work is under way at the jetty, while hotels, resorts and restaurants are being cleaned, repaired and refurbished. Local businesses hope the return of tourists will help them recover some of the losses suffered during the prolonged closure and restrictions.
However, although the island has officially been opened to tourists, passenger vessels have yet to receive the necessary approvals to begin operations.
At the jetty, workers are replacing damaged and rusted metal plates and repairing the pontoon. The narrow passageway has also been widened to make movement easier. Workers involved in the renovation said painting work was expected to be completed within a few days.
Construction worker Jalal Uddin said parts of the jetty had deteriorated after years of use. Workers were repairing the damaged sections and installing new metal plates to make the facility usable again, he said.
Hotels and resorts are also preparing to accommodate visitors. Resorts along the southern and western beaches are undergoing final renovations, including painting, cleaning and preparing rooms. Restaurant owners and employees are also making arrangements to serve food to tourists.
Mithu Mia, manager of Luipaz Resort, said rooms, the surrounding environment and other facilities were being prepared to welcome visitors.
Businesses had suffered losses during the long absence of tourists, he said, adding that they hoped the new season would help them recover at least part of those losses.
Island residents are also hopeful about changes in the rules for the new tourism season. Under the latest decision, a maximum of 3,500 tourists will be allowed to visit the island daily, while the previous restrictions on overnight stays have been relaxed.
The changes have brought some relief to residents whose livelihoods depend on tourism and fishing. They expect a business revival and more employment opportunities as visitor numbers increase.
Some adventure-seeking tourists have already travelled to the island to enjoy its natural beauty. The administration, meanwhile, says it is prioritising environmental conservation, safe travel and visitor security.
Additional Deputy Commissioner Shahidul Alam said the district administration was taking necessary measures to ensure tourists’ safety while protecting the island’s environment.
Seven luxury vessels are expected to operate between Nuniachhara BIWTA jetty in Cox’s Bazar and Saint Martin’s during the season. But none has yet received permission to operate because the required documents and approvals from different authorities are incomplete.
The approval process requires clearance from the Ministry of Environment, approval from the Department of Shipping, a route permit from the Bangladesh Inland Water Transport Authority and permission from the Cox’s Bazar district administration.
The software the Bangladesh Tourism Board designated to register tourists’ information is also not fully ready.
Mahmudur Rahman Sayem, the Cox’s Bazar district administration official responsible for the tourism cell, said no vessel had been authorised to operate to the island because the required documents had not been submitted.
He had also learnt that some of the Tourism Board’s arrangements were not yet complete, he said.
The deputy commissioner is scheduled to visit Saint Martin’s on Wednesday and meet relevant stakeholders. A decision on vessel operations may follow the visit, Sayem added.
Hossainul Islam Bahadur, general secretary of the Sea Cruise Operators Owners Association of Bangladesh (SCOAB), said clearances and approvals from the relevant government agencies had yet to be completed.
The Tourism Board’s software for collecting tourists’ information was also not ready, preventing vessels from operating as scheduled, he said. Operators were preparing to begin services on Thursday or Friday after completing the necessary procedures.
Preparations across the island are now nearing completion. Local businesses and residents are waiting for formal approval for vessel operations, which will determine when tourists can return in large numbers after the prolonged break.
By Mohammad Morshed
Photo: Rahim Uddin
