Tour operators and hotels in Bandarban are doing a brisk business as a massive number of tourists are flowing into the district during the Eid vacation this year.
Almost all the rooms in most hotels and resorts have been booked in advance. After the setback caused by the rainy season, the tourism industry is rejuvenating now.
Every year, Bandarban witnesses a flow of tourists on the occasion of Eid-ul-Fitr. However, the rain creates hurdles in easy movement of the holidaymakers, the insiders of the tourism sector of Bandarban told the Dhaka Tribune.
Still, after the rainy season is over, a good number of tourists are entering the district to enjoy the scenic beauty of nature. The panoramic view of mountains and clouds is desirable to them, so they have chosen the Eid vacation to escape the concrete jungle and indulge into the greenery of Bandarban, the sources said.
Joy Tripura, manager of Nil Anchol Tourism Centre, the bulk of tourists started entering the city particularly from the third day of Eid vacation.
To serve the vacationers with finest services, beautification has been done to most of the tourist spots and security has been beefed up there. Those associated with ensuring the soundness of the popular tourist spots are having a hard time to serve the massive flow of tourists. These spots include Nilgiri, Nil Anchol, Swarnamondir, Boga Lake in Ruma upazila, and Keokradong, the second highest mountain of Bangladesh.
Sources in Bandarban Hotel Owners’ Association said for the last two days, the weather was not in favour of the tourists. A total of 46 hotels and motels have already been booked. From the third day of Eid-ul-Fitr celebrations, the hotel owners are expecting to cut a good profit till the end of one week.
Owner of Palki Guest House Alauddin said: “Our hotels are booked already, no sit is vacant.”
Meanwhile, the transport owners associations are also passing a busy time in serving the extra number of tourists. Sources in the Bandarban Jeep-Micro Owners’ Association said 215 “chander gari” and jeeps are used to serve tourists in Bandarban and Ruma upazila. The drivers are passing a busy time this season.
