In a last-minute twist, the planned reopening of the coral island of Saint Martin for tourists Today Saturday has been thrown into uncertainty, as ship owners have decided not to operate, citing a lack of viable business.
After a nine-month closure, the island was set to welcome visitors again. Two ships, the Karnaphuli Express and Bar-Awlia, were scheduled to ferry tourists from the BIWTA jetty in Cox's Bazar city. However, the owners have now backed out.
Hossain Islam Bahadur, General Secretary of the Sea Cruise Operators Owners Association of Bangladesh, stated, "The Tourism Board's software for ticketing is still not operational. Furthermore, we won't get enough tourists under the 'day-trip only' rule for November. For these reasons, no ships will go to Saint Martin from November 1st." He added that preparations are being made to start operations in December and January.
While the Ministry of Environment has given the green light to reopen the ecologically sensitive island, strict regulations are in place. For the entire month of November, tourists are only permitted day trips and must return the same evening. Overnight stays will be allowed on a limited scale for a maximum of 2,000 tourists per day in December and January. The island will be completely closed to tourists in February.
To protect the fragile ecosystem, the ministry has issued a comprehensive set of rules. All tickets must be purchased through the Bangladesh Tourism Board's approved web portal and will include a travel pass and a QR code to prevent counterfeiting.
Several activities are now completely banned on the island. These include lighting fires on the beach at night, creating loud noises, holding barbeque parties, entering the Keora forest or harvesting/selling its fruit, and harming biodiversity like turtles, birds, and corals. The beach is off-limits for motorcycles, jet skis, or any other motorized vehicles. Tourists are also discouraged from bringing single-use plastics and are advised to carry their own water flasks.
This "day-trip only" model has raised concerns among local businesses, whose livelihoods are entirely dependent on tourism. "Saint Martin is very far from Cox's Bazar city. The travel itself takes the whole day. So, tourists won't come here without the option to stay overnight. Currently, we are living with losses," said Abdur Rahman, President of the Saint Martin Bazar Association.
Nur Ahmed, former Chairman of Saint Martin Union Parishad, echoed the sentiment, "The island's economy is now almost paralyzed. An stagnant situation has descended upon hotels, restaurants, trawlers, and shops. We are in favour of protecting the island's environment, but we plead with the government to also consider the livelihood aspect."
Meanwhile, authorities are firm on enforcing the new rules. Sheikh Ehsan Uddin, UNO of Teknaf, said, "There will be strict monitoring to enforce the ban on motor vehicles and control the number of tourists. All vessels transporting tourists must have permission, though locals are exempt. These steps are essential for environmental protection."
With the ships not sailing, the island's reopening now hangs in the balance, leaving tourists disappointed and the local community grappling with continued economic uncertainty.
