The unrest linked with nationwide quota reform movement and the ongoing curfew imposed by the government has been taking a heavy toll on tourism industry in Kuakata as both the local and foreign tourists have stopped making trips amid fear of violence.
Sources said that one of the biggest tourist spots in the country is empty of tourists during the ongoing turmoil situation.
In various parts of the area, numerous shops are open but lack customers. Traders, rather than tourists, cover beach umbrellas and benches, said Selim Miah, a restaurant owner.
Most restaurants are closed, and many hotel and motel rooms are empty due to the decrease in tourism, leading to significant losses for businesses.
Shaheen Alam, assistant manager of Kuakata's largest and most modern hotel, Sikdar Resort & Villas, said, "In the current situation, each of our villas is lying vacant. Rooms in the 16-storey tower building and the resort's main building are also empty.
“The electricity bill of our hotel is Tk 24 to 25 lakh per month. In addition, there are 200 officers and employees. Salary Tk 50 lakh per month has to be paid. Apart from this, there is an additional cost of Tk 25 to 30 lakh. Due to the ongoing situation, we have suffered huge losses this month.”
Kuakata Hotel-Motel Owners' Association President MA Motaleb Sharif said threre are more than 200 residential hotels in Kuakata. On average, each of the hotels suffers a loss of more than Tk one lakh per week. If this continues, there will be a big loss in the tourism industry.
Everyone involved in various businesses in Kuakata has more or less bank loans. Bank installments have to be paid every month. There are various expenses on it. The traders can no longer survive by paying additional expenses. Due to the ongoing situation, the traders have lost at least Tk 100 crore in 20 sectors, he added.
"We have 27 employees at the hotel, and we spend about Tk 35,000 daily, including electricity bills and other expenses. The hotel has 58 rooms. During normal times, about 70 per cent of the rooms are booked four to five days in advance for every Thursday, Friday, and Saturday," Hotel Khan Palace General Manager Faizul Karim Emon said.
However, they expressed hope that the number of tourists will increase once the situation becomes stable. Meanwhile, tourist police have been patrolling Kuakata's tourist spots, including the beach area, despite the absence of tourists.
On Monday, this correspondent visited the area and found that the fast food shops, and cosmetics shops on the east and west sides of the beach were locked.
Zero point of the beach, Chowrasta, Ganga Moti, Lembur Bon, Elisha Park, Shutki Bazar and most of the sightseeing places are devoid of tourists. Tourists, who were stranded in Kuakata, due to the nationwide unrest, have already left Kuakata with the help of the military.
Tour Guide Association President KM Bachchu said: “We primarily assist tourists referred by tour operators and various agencies in Dhaka. Approximately 50 of our trained guides have been idle for the past week, and it is uncertain how long this situation will persist.”
Superintend of Police of the Kuakata Tourist Police Ansar Uddin said only a few tourists were in Kuakata during the unrest and curfew.
“Over the past few days, we have been able to safely send the stranded tourists to their destinations with the help of the army. At the moment, Kuakata is completely devoid of tourists. Nevertheless, we have patrols and surveillance throughout the area,” he added.
