Thousands of tourists thronged Cox’s Bazar beach on Friday, turning the country’s premier tourist destination into a lively hub of activity.
From morning until evening, the Kolatoli, Sugandha, and Laboni points of the beach remained crowded with tourists enjoying the sea, scenic views, and pleasant weather.
A visit to the beach on Friday revealed a festive atmosphere as families, groups of friends, and holidaymakers gathered along the shoreline.
Many were seen enjoying the waves, taking photographs, and soaking in the natural beauty of the world’s longest natural sea beach.
People associated with the tourism sector said the recent completion of the Secondary School Certificate (SSC) examinations had encouraged many students and their families to travel to Cox’s Bazar during the weekend.
Although there was no public holiday, the weekly break contributed to the surge in visitor numbers.
Raihan Islam, a tourist from Dhaka, said he had travelled to Cox’s Bazar with his family after the examinations.
“The beauty of the sea always fascinates me. We are having a wonderful time here,” he said.
Nusrat Jahan, who arrived from Chattogram, reported that the beach was packed with visitors.
“The weather is pleasant, and we are enjoying our trip. Watching the sunset was particularly memorable,” she said.
Saiful Alam, a visitor from Rajshahi, said he had returned to Cox’s Bazar after a long time.
“The large number of tourists suggests that the country’s tourism sector is regaining momentum,” he said.
The economy of Cox’s Bazar largely depends on tourism. A decline in visitor arrivals often affects hotels, restaurants, transport operators, and other tourism-related businesses.
Local business owners expressed satisfaction over the increased tourist turnout.
Mukim Khan, a hotel operator in the Kolatoli area, said tourist arrivals had increased significantly compared with the previous few weeks.
“Business has improved somewhat. We hope the number of tourists will continue to grow in the coming days,” he said.
To ensure visitor safety, members of the Sea Safe Lifeguard service remained on duty across the beach.
Mohammad Osman, a senior Sea Safe lifeguard, said thousands of tourists had gathered at the beach for the weekly holiday.
“A total of 27 lifeguards have been deployed at the Kolatoli, Sugandha and Laboni points from morning until sunset. We are closely monitoring the beach to prevent accidents and ensure tourists remain safe while entering the water,” he said.
Meanwhile, members of the Tourist Police Cox’s Bazar Region, executive magistrates from the district administration and personnel of the Beach Management Committee were also deployed to maintain security and assist visitors.
Tourism stakeholders expressed optimism that tourist arrivals would continue to rise in the coming weeks, supported by the monsoon season and educational institution holidays, providing a welcome boost to the local tourism industry and related businesses.
By Abdu Rashid Manik
Photo: Abdu Rashid Manik
