The number of foreign tourists in Cox’s Bazar has been declining gradually over the past few years and this year’s Eid-ul-Azha was no exception.
Only a small number of tourists from foreign countries arrived in the coastal town during the Eid and tourism business owners say irregularities from the government’s side should be blamed for this.
But the Cox’s Bazar deputy commissioner, Md Ali Hossain, who is also the president of the Beach Management Committee, denied the allegation and said the government had drawn up massive plans to attract foreign tourists.
According to tourism business owners, Cox’s Bazar does not offer a good road communication system while a lack of promotion and security is also a key reason why foreign tourist arrivals are decreasing.
Bangladesh Parjatan Corporation has also conceded that the number of foreign tourists in Cox’s Bazar has reduced but gave no official statistics on how many tourists arrived in the coastal town this year or in the past few years.
Nur-e Alam, assistant manager at Seagull Hotel, said the beach in Cox’s Bazar is not very clean which turns off foreign tourists.
“Also, there are many makeshift stalls and vendors in and around the beach, something that foreign tourists particularly find annoying.
“Those coming from different parts of the world also look for a variety of activities like sunbath but there is no good facility for that in Cox’s Bazar,” he explained.
Cox’s Bazar Hotel Motel Owners Association General Secretary Abul Kashem Sikder said foreign tourists, while in Cox’s Bazar, feel that there is a real dearth of entertainment activities that they are accustomed to.
Sarwar Alam, manager of Ocean Paradise Hotel and Resort, said many entrepreneurs set up high-class hotels offering state-of-the-art facilities to attract foreign tourists in the previous years but they are now counting losses because of the dwindling number of international tourists.
Former president of Tour Operators Association of Cox’s Bazar SM Kibria said the ambience of Cox’s Bazar is yet to reach a level that can meet the expectations of foreign tourists.
“What is needed now to attract more tourists here is initiatives by the government. And of course implementation of any initiative is also crucial,” he added.
Md Sakhawat Hossain, vice-president of Cox’s Bazar Hotel Owners Association, echoed the words of Kibria, and said a truly international airport and an exclusive tourist zone can make the world’s longest sea beach more appealing to prospective tourists from other countries.
The deputy commissioner of Cox’s Bazar said building a marine drive road along the beach is one of the key plans of the government and is aimed at making more foreign tourists consider a vacation in the coastal town.
He said land acquisition for setting up an exclusive tourist zone in Teknaf upazila had been completed and the project is in the works.
“There are also a number of other plans that the government has made to give Cox’s Bazar a facelift. Those will revamp the beach and will, in turn, help boost the number of foreign tourists,” added Ali.
