Environment, Forest and Climate Change Minister Abdul Awal Mintoo has said the government will reconsider the tourism period, daily visitor limit and departure point for tourist vessels serving Saint Martin’s Island.
He said decisions would be made after considering the island’s environmental and biodiversity conservation, tourist safety and transport management.
The minister made the remarks while chairing an inter-ministerial meeting on tourist visits to Saint Martin’s at the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change Secretariat conference room on Monday.
Environment Minister of State Sheikh Faridul Islam, Cox’s Bazar-4 lawmaker Shahjahan Chowdhury and Dhaka-14 lawmaker Mir Ahmad Bin Quasem attended the meeting.
Mintoo emphasized the need to conduct tourism activities in a manner that preserves the island’s natural environment and biodiversity. He said the island’s carrying capacity, waste management, availability of safe drinking water, and the impact of tourism on the marine ecosystem must be considered.
He added that tourism management arrangements would be reviewed further based on the opinions of the relevant ministries and agencies.
State Minister Sheikh Faridul Islam stressed purchasing travel passes and tickets with QR codes through web portals recognised by the Bangladesh Tourism Board, as well as complying with environmental protection guidelines.
He also emphasised preventing visitors from carrying banned polythene bags, discouraging single-use plastics and encouraging tourists to bring their own water flasks.
The meeting discussed regulating tourist visits and stays on Saint Martin’s during the 2026–27 tourism season, conserving the island’s environment and biodiversity, and ensuring tourist safety.
The meeting paid particular attention to the duration of the tourism season, the daily visitor limit, and the departure point for tourist vessels. The meeting also reviewed existing tourism control guidelines.
Under a notification issued on October 22, 2025, tourists could visit Saint Martin’s during the day in November and return the same day, without staying overnight. Overnight stays were permitted in December and January, while tourist visits were suspended in February.
The notification also set an average daily limit of no more than 2,000 tourists. The existing provisions will be reconsidered, and subsequent decisions will be announced, the meeting was told.
Existing restrictions aimed at protecting the island’s biodiversity, including sea turtles, birds and coral, will remain in force.
The restrictions prohibit lighting, noise and barbecue parties on the beach and adjoining areas at night. Entry into keya forests, collection and trade of keya fruit, and the operation of motorcycles and similar vehicles on the beach are also prohibited.
The acting secretary of the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, Dr Fahmida Khanam; additional secretary Mohammad Navid Shafiullah; Department of Shipping director general Commodore Md Shafiul Bari; representatives of relevant ministries, divisions and agencies; tourism businesses; and environmental organisations attended the meeting.
Representatives of the local administration and tourism businesses also joined the meeting online.
Cox’s Bazar Life Report
Cox’s Bazar Life Photo
