Businesses in the tourism sector of Saint Martin’s have called for an extension of the current permission for tourists to travel to the island and stay overnight until February.
This request was made during a press conference organised by the Saint Martin’s Island Environment and Tourism Protection-Development Alliance at the Economic Reporters Forum (ERF) auditorium in Dhaka on Thursday.
The press conference highlighted that Saint Martin’s was opened to tourists in November.
However, several factors, including complications with travel passes, prevented tourists from visiting the island at that time.
While tourists have been able to visit since December, many continue to face difficulties with obtaining travel passes.
With Ramadan set to begin in March, February is seen as the ideal time for travel before this period.
The press conference warned that if tourists were restricted during this time, the islanders would face significant losses.
For the benefit of local businesses, workers, and daily wage earners, the tourism sector representatives have called for the permission for travel and overnight stays on Saint Martin’s to be extended until February.
The Chairman of the Saint Martin’s Island Environment and Tourism Protection Development Alliance Shiblul Azam Qureshi said that despite strong opposition from various groups such as students, local residents, daily wage earners, fishermen, young entrepreneurs, tourism business owners, transport providers and hotel and resort owners, the government had made a detrimental decision to ban travel to Saint Martin’s and restrict overnight stays.
He further argued that this decision had already resulted in widespread unemployment, leaving residents worried about their livelihoods, while also drawing attention to the ongoing financial struggles faced by islanders during the off-season.
Habibur Rahman, General Secretary of the Saint Martin’s Island Environment and Tourism Protection Alliance, siad that the island, a popular tourist destination in Bangladesh, traditionally welcomes visitors from 1 October to 31 March each year.
However, this year, the Ministry of Environment imposed restrictions on tourism.
Under the new regulations, tourists were allowed to visit Saint Martin’s in November, but overnight stays were prohibited.
Only 2,000 tourists were permitted to stay overnight in December and January, and no tourists were allowed in February, he said.
Habibur further said that no tourists were able to visit in November due to delays in obtaining sailing permits.
While ships began operating from 1 December, many tourists were deterred by the difficulty of obtaining travel passes.
‘Saint Martin’s residents cannot survive on just two months of income each year,’ he added.
St. Martin’s cruise ship owners, Atlantic Ship Managing Director Nazrul Islam, owner of Tilottama Eco Resort and local environmentalist Javed Rahman, representative of Carey Sindabad Ship Sarwar Hossain among others spoke in the press conference.