Cox’s Bazar, with its sea, hills, forests and diverse culture, remains one of Bangladesh’s most attractive tourist destinations, featuring the world’s longest natural sea beach.
Thousands of tourists from home and abroad visit the coastal town every year.
Despite its vast tourism potential, however, the town has failed to make the expected progress in attracting foreign tourists, according to people concerned with the sector.
Some visitors said the tourism environment in Cox’s Bazar had changed over the years and needed better cleanliness, hospitality, and overall management.
Adil Ahmed, an elderly tourist from Chattogram, recalled visiting Cox’s Bazar in 2002.
He recalled that the beach was much cleaner back then, with attractive messages and billboards welcoming tourists visible in various locations.
“Many memories of my visit to Cox’s Bazar in 2002 are still fresh in my mind,” he said.
Nazmul Hasan, a tourist from Dhaka, said Cox’s Bazar had many excellent places to stay, but the overall environment needed to become more tourist-friendly.
“More attention should be given to roads, cleanliness, food quality and tourists’ safety,” he said.
Another tourist, Sumaiya, said Cox’s Bazar beach was stunning, but entertainment options were limited beyond visiting the beach and enjoying the sea.
“More entertainment centres, parks and attractive programmes, particularly for families and children, would make visits to Cox’s Bazar more enjoyable,” she said.
Cox’s Bazar deputy commissioner Md Abdul Mannan said the government was working to ensure a safe, clean and attractive environment for tourists.
“Various initiatives are being planned to make Cox’s Bazar’s tourism sector more attractive,” he said.
By Mohammad Morshed
Photo: Mohammad Morshed
