Inadequate infrastructures hamper tourism

Lack of planning and skilled manpower coupled with under-developed infrastructure is hampering tourism in Sylhet division.

Sylhet division has always been on the top list of tourists for the spectacular natural beauty of its haors, waterfalls, swamps, hills, and tea gardens, but recently the region is failing to attract adequate visitors due to various shortcomings including fragmentary infrastructures.

Sources from the tourism sector said this year the expected number of tourists is not visiting Sylhet due to various problems including broken roads, underdeveloped infrastructure and inadequate security. Lack of planning, campaign, and skilled manpower is also hampering tourism.

The sources said being affected by a number of floods this year; most of the roads leading to popular tourist spots including Bichhanakandi and Ratargul were destroyed. Tourists suffer immensely due to broken roads while going to the spots.

Bichhanakandi is around 42 kilometers away from Sylhet city. On the way to Bichhanakandi, the condition of the 7-kilometre road stretching from Bangabir road to Hadarpar is very dilapidated. The big pits created by the flood have not been repaired till now.

On the other hand, Ratargul is situated around 26 kilometers away from Sylhet and a five-kilometer portion of the road is severely damaged. Another two kilometers, from Chanpur to Motorghat, a portion of the road has become muddy making it impossible to pass during rainy days.

Besides, no other transports except auto-rickshaw and three-wheelers want to travel on the roads to Ratargul and Bichhanakandi.

Sadman Sakib who was visiting Bichhanakandi, said, “The nature in Sylhet is quite tranquil and stunning. Hills, rivers, swamps, waterfalls, and forests all are attractive here but the roads are horrible which is the key hindrance for tourists. After the first experience, people would not want to come here again.”         

Former member of Bangladesh Parjatan Corporation Jakaria Ahmed also echoed the same. He said, “The expected number of tourists is not visiting Sylhet due to broken roads. As a result, most of the tourists are going to India’s Meghalaya through Sylhet instead of visiting Sylhet.”

“Only expensive resorts cannot attract tourists. People visit for pleasure and comfort while Sylhet offers hassle,” he said.

Another lucrative tourist spot is Bholaganj under Companiganj upazila in the district. The Sylhet-Bholaganj road is comparatively better. Other necessary facilities like a washroom and change room are available at the spot. Most of the tourist spots in Sylhet, including Bichhanakandi and Ratargul, lack these facilities.

Professor Abdul Halim, from the tourism and hospitality department of Leading University in Sylhet, said, “Most of the tourist spots in Sylhet do not have restrooms and washrooms. Tourists get in trouble coming to these places.

“It is necessary to construct washrooms not only in tourist areas but also on the way to these spots,” he suggested.

These spots also do not have any waste management system, many tourists pollute the tourism spots with trash, he said, adding that proper waste management is necessary for the flourishment of the tourist industry.

Emadullah Shahidur Islam Shahin, vice-president of Bangladesh Poribesh Andolon (BAPA) of Sylhet unit, opined that nature and the environment should not be destroyed in the name of infrastructural development.

“Ratargul is a swamp forest which should be preserved as it is. But the Forest Department has erected a watch tower in the name of attracting tourists which is unnecessary and goes against the nature of swamp forests. Structures should not be built in forest and haor,” he said.

“Engine-run boats also should be banned inside forests and haors. There is a traditional boat, known as ‘Barki’, in Sylhet which is operated by hand. This boat can be used for tourists’ transportations,” he advised. 

Moreover, tourists in Sylhet suffer greatly due to mismanagement in the transportation sector. As app-based transport service is not available, transport workers and boatmen charge unnecessary high fares from the tourists for the rides, alleged several tourists.                    

Shahjalal University of Science and Technology (SUST) teacher Imdadul Haque said riverboat and transport workers seek excessive money from tourists in Sylhet. “The drivers here charge more if the passenger is not from Sylhet. As a result, the tourists have to pay the extra fare and worry about security,” he said.

Ashraful Kabir, the coordinator of Bhumisantan Bangladesh, said boat fares should be fixed by the authorities, and boats should be registered and brought under regular monitoring.

“Every year many people drown in Jaflong and Lalakhal. Although such accidents happen almost every year, no measures have been taken for the safety of tourists. The activity of tourist police is not visible at the tourist spots,” he said.  

Goainghat Upazila Nirbahi Officer (UNO) Tahmilur Rahman said boat fares in tourist spots including Bichhanakandi, and Ratargul have been fixed, and keeping life jackets in the boats has been made mandatory.

Industry insiders said that Sylhet has no special campaign or branding for tourism. Proper information and guidelines for visiting tourist spots are not available at a particular place.

BAPA’s Shahidur Islam Shahin said religious tourism is one of the branches of tourism worldwide and Sylhet has huge potential in this regard. But due to the lack of a campaign, the potentiality is still untapped.

“Sylhet has 360 shrines including the shrines of Hazrat Shahjalal and Hazrat Shahporan. The ancestral land of Sri Chaitanya is also here. But, there is no publicity about where they are located and what are the special features of those places,” he added.

Shah Jaman Mostafa Bahar, president of Sylhet Itihas O Oitijjo Trust, said there is no specific information source for visitors about which places they can visit and stay. “As a result, tourists have to suffer a lot to get proper information,” he added.

Salahuddin Bablu, general secretary of Sylhet Caterers Association, believes that the lack of skilled manpower is one of the obstacles to the development of tourism in Sylhet.

“We can’t find skilled manpower for hotel management, hospitality, restaurant, tour operator or tour guide. Training centres should be established for creating skilled manpower in this sector,” he said.

Contacted, Deputy Commissioner of Sylhet Mojibor Rahman said that they will create a website where visitors will find the required information about Sylhet.

He said, “The floods have damaged most of the roads in Sylhet. Several project proposals for road reconstruction have been submitted to the ministry.”

Sylhet Divisional Commissioner Mosharaf Hossain said, “Sylhet has everything. Nature has given us everything. We have to take advantage of them. There are some obstacles. A concerted effort is needed to eradicate the obstacles. Local people also should be aware to make Sylhet tourist friendly.”