Tourists flocked to Sreemangal upazila, one of the tourist areas of Moulvibazar, the tea capital of the country, on a three-day holiday, including the Christmas holiday. As more tourists come than the capacity, the hotel-resorts of Sreemangal have no place to accommodate the mole.
On Friday, tourists were seen in groups strolling and taking pictures, mingling with nature. A few foreign tourists were also seen at this time.
It is known that a large number of tourists arrive in Sreemangal every year from the beginning of winter. Tourists are rushing to all the tourist areas of the country due to the addition of an extra day of government holiday around the tourist season on the one hand and Christmas on the other hand for the Christian community. No exception happened in the state of tea.
Tourism officials said that Sreemangal is the first choice of tourists visiting Sylhet region. 90% of the tourists spend the night in hotels and resorts in Sreemangal. The remaining 10 percent of tourists stay in other upazilas including the district headquarters. They stayed here to see the sights of the whole district as well as visit various interesting places in Sylhet.
According to Sreemangal accommodation company, 95% of the rooms have already been reserved in Sreemangal’s hotel-resort during the holidays available on the occasion of Christmas. Tourists are staying in hotel resorts from Thursday (December 22).
They also said that Sreemangal, the capital of tea, is crowded with tourists on any holiday. Sreemangal is one of the tourist attractions to enjoy green tea gardens and natural beauty.
The places tourists visit here are Baikka Beel of Hailhaur in Sreemangal, tea gardens carpeted with green hills, Khasia Punji, villages of Manipuri and Tripura, Wildlife Seva Foundation, Slaughterhouse 71, Shankar Tila Lake, Vadaura Lake, Jagachara Lake, Phulchhara Garo Line Lake, Nimai Shivbari, Dinston Cemetery inside Finley Tea Estate 15 km from Sreemangal town, Harinchhara Golf Course, Harinchhara Pilgrimage Site, Harinchhara Jhowban, Vidyabil Hajm Tila, Centenary Gorge at Naharpunji and Lauachhara National Park, Madhavpur Lake in Kamalganj, Bir Shrestha Hamidur Rahman Memorial at Dhalai Tea Garden, Khasia Palli, Hum Hum Waterfall, Kalabon, Madhavakunda Waterfall in Baralekha, Hakaluki Haor. Kamala Rani Dighi, Kowadighi Haor and water village Antehari in Rajnagar.
Besides, the 500-year-old Khozar Mosque in Moulvibazar Sadar, Barshi Jora Eco Park, Lathitila reserved forest with rows of orange and agar orchards, Gagantila, Kalapahar, Moorichhara Eco Park etc. of Kulaura Upazila.
It is known that Moulvibazar Dusai Resort and Spa, Rangauti Resort, Varshijora Bagan Luxury Resort, Sreemangal Radhanagar Grand Sultan Tea Resort and Golf, Tea Board Tea Resort and Museum, Tea Haven, Lemon Garden, Balishira Resort, Navem Resort, Grand Salim Resort, Hide There are about hundred hotels, resorts and cottages here including Bangladesh.
Shahin Mahmud, ticket counter manager of Lauachhara National Park, said that more than 1200 tourists entered Lauachhara forest by buying tickets from 9:00 am to 3:00 pm on Friday. Apart from domestic tourists, there are also some foreign tourists.
Samchul Haque, General Secretary of Sreemangal Tourism Services Association, said that there are many tourist places in Moulvibazar district, so many tourists arrive on any holiday or festival. Most of the tourists coming to Moulvibazar district choose Sreemangal for overnight stay.
He also said that a large number of tourists have arrived since Thursday. Apart from this, 90% advance booking has been done in Sreemangal Hotel-Resort till 31st December.
In response to the question whether the tourists are in trouble because the rent is high in the hotel-resort of Sreemangal, he said that the hotel resort authority determines the rent according to the standard of the hotel. There are some traders who do not provide service according to the standards. Instead, they take more money. We are looking into that. So that tourists are not cheated.
On condition of anonymity, several tourism-related businessmen said that since 2008 the tourism district was announced as Moulvibazar, housing has not been developed according to demand. There is no development of roads. Most of the infrastructure that has been developed so far has been done by tourism traders. Government officials and public representatives always tell stories of development. But in reality nothing is happening.
Shamsudoha, the manager of the tea resort under the control of the tea board, said that the entire resort has been booked. No rooms available this month.
Dishari, executive officer of Grand Sultan Tea Resort and Golf, said, "Our resort has already been booked full for the Christmas holidays.
Sreemangal Zone Tourist Police Inspector Pradeep Kumar Chakraborty said, our people are deployed at every spot to provide security to the tourists. Besides, I myself am working in the field to provide overall security to tourists at various spots with mobile teams.
Local journalist MA Rakib, who is in charge of direct and smart tourism at 'T Valley Restaurant' in Sreemangal, said, "We are ready to provide services to tourists. In addition to serving quality food in our restaurant, our officials have been instructed to provide full cooperation in hotel reservation, guide service and rent-a-car so that the incoming tourists do not suffer.
Syed Rizvi and Soleman Haseeb, senior tour guides assigned to Lauachhra National Park, said that domestic tourists have started coming. But foreign tourists are coming less.
He said, "Two or three foreign tourists met on Friday."
Salim Ahmed, President of the Tourism Services Agency, said that a large number of tourists are coming for three consecutive days of vacation. Besides, there are more tourists during winter. There are no hotel resorts here to accommodate the number of tourists who come for various festivals. In comparison to the infrastructural developments that have taken place in the private sector, nothing has been developed by the government.
He demanded from the government that if the government provides financial support or easy bank loans, then we will create more new entrepreneurs. We can decorate more beautifully.
Moulvibazar Police Superintendent Mohammad Zakaria said that special initiatives have been taken to reduce the harassment of tourists. Apart from tourist police, special security arrangements in plain clothes have been kept at every tourist spot in the district.
Moulvibazar Deputy Commissioner Mir Nahid Ahsan said, we have contacted the Tourism Board and the Ministry of Tourism. A cohesive space has been created. We can offer a wonderful tourist spot for tourists in all areas.
