Tourism business owners in Bandarban are fearing losses after the Election Commission (EC) banned the stay of outsiders in the district, except voters, as part of its measures to ensure peaceful municipal elections slated for December 30.
Bandarban district administration sources said no outsider, except voters, would be allowed to stay in the district between December 28 midnight and January 1 midnight.
The EC informed the district returning officer of the restriction in a letter.
On Wednesday, the returning officer, who is also the additional deputy commissioner of Bandarban, wrote to hotel and motel owners not to allow the stay of any tourist in compliance with the EC’s directive. The additional deputy commissioner, Md Abu Zafar, told the Dhaka Tribune the directive would be sternly enforced.
Hoteliers said the restriction on tourists would make them incur heavy losses, especially in winter when tourists come in hordes to enjoy the attractions of the hilly district.
Ashis Dhar, manager of Green Hill Hotel in Bandarban town, told the Dhaka Tribune the restriction had come just when the local tourism business was about to thrive.
Also, tourists began to cancel hotel bookings in the wake of the restriction.
Amal Das, president of Bandarban Hotel Motel Owners Association, told the Dhaka Tribune tourist arrivals in the district could reach zero because of the restriction.
Sources said hotel and motel owners urged Bandarban Deputy Commissioner Mizanul Haque Chowdhury to relax the restriction during a meeting at the district administration office yesterday morning.
Bandarban Sadar and Lama municipalities will go to polls on December 30.