Saint Martin's Island, with its pristine beaches, clean water and coral colonies, is one of Bangladesh’s most popular tourist spots that magnetically draws travellers each year. Yet the surge of heavy traffic increasingly poses a great threat to its delicate ecological balance.
Therefore, to facilitate tourists visiting Cox's Bazar to travel to Saint Martin's Island throughout the year, plans are underway to introduce a seaplane service, the Cox's Bazar Development Authority (CBDA) said on Thursday.
However, there will be restrictions on the number of visitors to protect the environment and preserve the local ecology.
Thus, all tourists will have to go through a mandatory registration system to travel to the only coral island in the country.
CBDA Chairman Commodore Mohammed Nurul Absar shared these insights with the fellows of the International Study Tour of Capstone Course during a view exchange program.
Stating that tourists rush to visit Saint Martin’s Island every tourist season, he emphasized that the increased traffic put severe strains on its environment.
“To protect its environment, we have to ensure only a limited number of visitors at any given time, and for this, seaplane service is essential,” he said.
“The government is actively working on the implementation of a seaplane service being brought in,” he added.
Commodore Absar highlighted the government's comprehensive development plans for Cox's Bazar.
“Already the region has seen significant advancement. Alongside ongoing projects, there are initiatives to make Cox's Bazar a top-tier beautiful tourism spot in line with global standards,” he said.
“Plans for cable car installations from Cox's Bazar to Moheshkhali and Cox's Bazar to Teknaf are in the pipeline. Upcoming attractions include a vast undersea aquarium at Sabrang Tourism Park, a circular bus terminal, Marina Bay resort, Khurushkul smart city, a theme park, an eco-resort, and riverine tourism in Chowfaldandi, all being expedited for completion,” he added.
The chairman proudly said: "Cox's Bazar Development Authority (CDA) has undertaken the country's most ambitious master planning project. The master plan is gradually becoming a reality. Many transformations have already taken place with several mega projects ongoing. In a few years, we aim to present a highly developed model of Cox's Bazar."
Regarding other developments, Commodore Nurul Absar said: "The CDA is working on introducing a human waste treatment plant in Cox's Bazar, widening the Bakkhali River to 150 feet and establishing an international convention centre.
“Arrangements are also being made for foreign tourists to exchange currencies easily through the Cox's Bazar Development Authority.”
At the event, Commodore Absar showcased the vision of the Cox's Bazar Development Authority to the attending fellows.
He touched upon promoting tourism, harnessing blue economy resources, addressing climate resilience, focusing on aquaculture, leveraging geopolitical advantages in the Bay of Bengal, and also acknowledged the Rohingya crisis and its long-term implications.