Holidaymakers have flocked to tourist and recreation destinations, including Cox's Bazar-Kuakata beach and Sajek, during the Eid-ul-Fitr and Pahela Boishakh [Bengali New Year] holidays.
The tourists, along with their family and loved ones, are visiting from all corners of the country.
Aside from the beaches, other tourist spots in Cox’s Bazar – such as the Adinath Temple, Himchari, Inani Beach, Sonadia Island, and Dulahazra Safari Park – are also witnessing huge waves of tourists.
There is a lot of hustle and bustle in the Burmese market of Cox’s Bazar city, Rakhine Palli, Buddhist temple and Ramu Buddhist Temple as well.
Businessman Atikur Rahman, visiting Cox’s Bazar from Dhaka, said he booked a room at the tourism destination before Eid. So there is no need to worry about accommodation during his trip.
“With the amount of people I see on the streets here, there is no way they all managed to book rooms in hotels. Some of these tourists may have to spend their nights on the streets,” he speculated.
Meanwhile, Cox’s Bazar Hotel-Guest House Owners Association President Abul Kashem Sikder said, “Cox’s Bazar has over 500 hotels, motels, guesthouses, cottages and resorts for tourists. These hotels can accommodate a total of 128,000 tourists a day.”
Marine Drive Hotel Resort Owners Association General Secretary Mukim said around 1,50,000 tourists visit Cox’s Bazar during the vacation and almost 95 per cent of the available rooms has been booked this season.
Every year during the Eid holidays, the travel-hungry flock to the sunrise and sunset beaches of Kuakata to relieve some of the tiredness of the mechanised city. Due to the opening of the Padma Bridge, Kuakata is bustling with tourists.
Rafiqul Islam, a tourist, said, “I am from Barishal city. I came to Kuakata with my newlywed wife on Eid vacation. The entire beach is full of tourists from morning on April 14. A lot of people are visiting, and the atmosphere feels good.”
However, normal life is being disrupted due to extreme heat.
Kuakata Hotel Owners Association Secretary General MA Motaleb Sharif said, “Kuakata has around 25,000 to 30,000 tourist capacity, and nearly 80 per cent of the rooms in most hotels have already been booked this season.
“But many tourists are leaving early because of the heat.”
On the other hand, Ruilui tourist center (Ruilui Valley) in Rangamati's Sajek Union under Baghaichhari Upazila has become busy with tourists during Eid and New Year holidays.
Many tourists are spending their nights wandering around balconies, local people's houses and streets without getting rooms in resort-cottages. Resort-cottage authorities are struggling to cope with the wave of tourists.
Industry insiders said there are around 112 resort-cottages in Sajek, where around 4,000 to 4,500 guests can be accommodated. Any more than this number causes a shortage of available rooms for holidaymakers.
Many tourists have come to Sajek without booking a room this season.
Cottage Malik Somitee of Sajek Organising Secretary Rahul Chakma Jon said, “All our rooms have already been booked. But more than five hundred tourists visited Sajek last Saturday without booking a room.
“Among them, more than three hundred tourists went to Khagrachari. Those who stayed spent the night in local people's houses, balconies, and staff rooms of resort-cottages, unfinished resort-cottages and streets.”
He added, “More hill lovers and tourists are coming to Sajek due to the recent bank robberies and terror attack in Bandarban’s Ruma and Thanchi.
“Many tourists have canceled hotel-motel bookings – initially made on the occasion of the long Eid holiday – after the bank robbery and looting of weapons in Bandarban’s Ruma and Thanchi.”
Industry insiders say due to this issue, the tourism sector has been adversely affected yet again. Most of the tourists who came to Bandarban on the second day of Eid were tourists from the neighboring districts and nearby residents.
Most of the areas in Dhaka city are empty as many city dwellers left Dhaka a few days before Eid. Few buses ply the roads during the holiday. However, the number of rickshaws has increased on the road.
Hatirjheel has also been decorated with newly colored circular buses and water boats on the occasion of Eid. Children can be seen hanging out with their parents in various parks, and enjoying fun rides.
People are also thronging the Fantasy Kingdom of Ashulia, and Nandan Park and Crafts Museum of Sonargaon to enjoy Eid with their families.
