The country's only coral island, Saint Martin's, was officially opened to tourists from November 1st. However, no ships set sail for the island. With overnight stays prohibited, a lack of tourist interest has led to a passenger crisis, causing ship owners to suspend operations. Consequently, no tourists made the journey.
A visit to the BIWTA jetty in Nuniyachhara, Cox's Bazar town, on Saturday morning revealed no ships anchored for Saint Martin's. A single tugboat was seen departing for Maheshkhali island, with no passengers in sight bound for Saint Martin's. This reporter spoke with some tourists present in the tourism area.
Rafiq Al Islam, a tourist from Khulna's Khalishpur, expressed his disappointment, "Saint Martin's is a place where time stands still. But the obligation to go and return on the same day is taking away the opportunity to experience that dreamlike moment."
Jemi Islam, from Muradnagar, Comilla, shared similar sentiments, stating, "Saint Martin's means a quiet bit of rest and the closeness of the sea. But the rule of going and coming back the same day is ruining that feeling of peace."
Samir Dewan from Malibagh, Dhaka, added, "To enjoy the beauty of the island, you need to stay at least one night. The current rule forces you to return on the same day, which takes away the real joy of visiting Saint Martin's."
Ship owners explained that while the government has permitted tourist travel to Saint Martin's for three months (November to January) under specific conditions, the day-trip-only rule for November has led many travel enthusiasts to cancel their plans. Facing this reality, ship owners were forced to decide against operating in November.
Hossain Islam Bahadur, General Secretary of the Sea Cruise Operators Owners Association of Bangladesh, said, "Although permission to go to Saint Martin's started today, we did not operate any ships. We are sure tourists will not go if they have to return the same day. This decision was made after confirming that."
He further appealed, "I hope the Honourable Environment and Climate Advisor, Syeda Rizwana Hasan, will personally visit Saint Martin's and see our situation. If she comes and sees for herself, she will understand our hardship."
Although the island has been opened after nearly nine months under the directives of the Ministry of Environment, tourists must visit on day trips throughout November. In December and January, a maximum of two thousand tourists per day will be allowed to stay overnight.
According to the ministry's notification, BIWTA cannot permit any vessel to travel to Saint Martin's without approval from the Environment Ministry. Tickets must be purchased through the Bangladesh Tourism Board's approved web portal. Each ticket will include a travel pass and a QR code; tickets without a QR code will be considered counterfeit.
The notification states that only day trips are permitted in November, with overnight stays prohibited. Limited overnight stays will be allowed in December and January, while tourist travel will be completely closed in February. A maximum of two thousand tourists can visit the island daily.
Several restrictions have been imposed to protect Saint Martin's fragile environment. These include a ban on lighting on the beach at night, creating loud noise, barbeque parties, entering the Keora forest or collecting/selling its fruit, and harming biodiversity including turtles, birds, and corals. Furthermore, motorcycles, jet skis, or other motorized vehicles are banned on the beach. Carrying prohibited polythene is not allowed, and single-use plastic items are discouraged. Tourists are advised to carry their own water flasks.
Abdur Rahman, President of the Saint Martin's Bazar Association, lamented, "Saint Martin's is far from Cox's Bazar town. The entire day is spent just traveling to and from. So, tourists won't come here without the option to stay overnight. We are currently living in a state of loss."
Nur Ahmed, former Chairman of Saint Martin's Union Parishad, said, "The island's economy is now almost paralyzed. Stagnation has set in everywhere - hotels, restaurants, trawlers, and shops. The livelihoods of local people are entirely dependent on tourism. They are now living in uncertainty. We are in favor of protecting the island's environment, but we plead with the government to also consider the aspect of our livelihoods."
Shekh Ehsan Uddin, UNO of Teknaf, stated, "There will be strict monitoring to enforce the ban on motor vehicles and control tourist numbers. Vessels transporting tourists to the island must obtain permission. Local residents do not require permission. These steps are essential for protecting the environment."
