Thousands of people are set to leave Dhaka and other major cities on Wednesday to enjoy a four-day holiday this weekend, with a public holiday on the occasion of Shaheed Dibash on February 21 and a chance to take a one-day leave on Thursday.
As this has actually turned out to be the case, nearly every hotel, motel and resort at the major tourist spots around the country have already been reportedly fully booked.
Owners of such establishments have said that most of the rooms, approximately 80 per cent, have already been booked in popular destinations such as Cox's Bazar, Saint Martin’s Island, Sajek, Bandarban, Sylhet and Kuakata. They anticipate that all rooms will be booked by Wednesday or Thursday.
Meanwhile, to tackle the extra rush of tourists, railway authorities have made the decision to run five special trains on the Dhaka-Cox's Bazar route during five holidays in February and March due to the high demand.
Speaking to The Business Post, Tour Operators Association of Bangladesh (TOAB) President Shiblul Azam Koreshi said, “If people can manage one day leave on Thursday that would enhance the holiday experience, contributing to a boost in business turnover.”
Mermaid Beach Resort’s Acting General Manager Jahirul Islam said, ”If tourists come to Cox's Bazar without making room booking, then it should be kept in mind that their cost will increase by 20 to 30 per cent.”
Tour Operators Association of Kuakata (TOAK) President Rumman Imtiaz said, ”200 hotels and motels are getting prepared to welcome tourists.”
Cottage Malik Somitee of Sajek Organizing Secretary Rahul Chakma Jon said, ”There are approximately 116 cottages, hotels, and motels in the area, accommodating around 3,500 to 4,000 tourists. Tourists might be avoiding St Martin's Island due to the turmoil in Myanmar, leading to increased pressure on Sajek.”
Earlier, during holidays, Sajek witnessed a significant influx of visitors, leading to overcrowding. Tourists faced challenges finding accommodations, resorting to staying in mosques, on roads, and in tents.
Saint Martin's Island Hotel Owners' Association President Mohammed Mahbubullah said due to the tension in Myanmar, passenger ships from Teknaf to St Martin’s are suspended. However, two ships come from Cox's Bazar and Chattogram, but they are a bit expensive. Even though some tourists have cancelled their bookings, he said, they still hope to attract a good number of visitors this weekend.
