News Desk : dhakamirror.com
A nine-month restriction on tourist movements to St Martin’s Island, the only coral island in Bangladesh, will take effect on Saturday, February 1.
Tourists can visit the island until Friday, January 31, as per a decision made by the environment, forest, and climate change ministry.
Residents and tourism operators on the island noted that visitors typically come to St Martin from October 1 to March 31. However, the restrictions on tourist movement will begin on February 1 this year, and many believe it should be postponed until February 28.
Tour operators expressed concerns about potential losses this year due to a decrease in tourist numbers resulting from the various restrictions and regulations imposed by the ministry.
Cox’s Bazar Additional District Magistrate, Imran Hossain, stated that ships will be permitted to operate to St. Martin’s until January 31. “After that, no tourist ships will be allowed to operate.”
This decision has raised alarms among local businesses, as the tourism sector is crucial to the island’s economy.
