As the 10-day Eid-ul-Azha holiday nears its end, the weekend holidays of Friday and Saturday have brought an unexpected surge of visitors to Cox’s Bazar, one of the country’s top tourist destinations. From one end of the beach to the other, the city is packed with tourists, with some areas so crowded that there seems to be hardly any space to move.
Abul Kashem Sikder, President of the Cox’s Bazar Hotel-Motel and Guest House Owners Association, shared, “Cox’s Bazar is brimming with tourists. Nearly 500 hotels, motels, and guest houses are fully booked. We urge tourists to make advance reservations before planning their visit.”
The overwhelming number of visitors has created significant challenges for law enforcement agencies. Both the Tourist Police and lifeguards have been working tirelessly to ensure the safety of the thousands of beachgoers. Lifeguards have been especially active, providing continuous monitoring and assistance to ensure the safety of bathers in the sea from early morning.
The Tourist Police also emphasized that additional security measures have been implemented along the beach to handle the crowd. They are also prepared to offer swift assistance to tourists in need.
Meanwhile, local business owners view this massive influx as a golden opportunity for growth. However, there is growing recognition within the industry that modernization and better planning of tourism management are essential to handle such high volumes of tourists effectively in the future.
By Abdu Rashid Manik
Photo: Abdu Rashid Manik
