The scenic spots of Kuakata remains almost vacant of tourists these days as people are refraining from making a holiday plan fearing political unrest.
As a result, the hotel and motel owners are counting substantial losses since November until now, a period considered as the “peak season” for the tourism industry.
“Only 12 guests arrived today by the river route. We are incurring a loss of around Tk6 lakh each week. Around Tk3 lakh is allocated for monthly salaries of our 19 employees and other expenses,” Md Azharuddin, manger of Motel Youth Inn, told the Dhaka Tribune yesterday.
“Many tourists have cancelled their tour out of fear of blockade and strike related violence,” he said.
Ahmed Jasim, a businessman based in Barisal, said: “We have cancelled our tours considering the blockade, as we would not like to get stranded in Kuakata for uncertain period amid risk of losing life and properties.”
“A number of tourists have cancelled bookings and we fear the situation might continue for next six months,” said Motaleb Sharif, secretary of Kuakata Hotel-Motel Owners Association.
“During this time in previous years we have faced hard time in giving reservations; however, this year, we are receiving only cancellations of the bookings and returning the advance they had paid,” Motaleb added.
Kuakata, which is mainly famous for the views of sunrise and sunset, is witnessing only a few local tourists with limited budgets, said Motaleb.
“The announcement of the indefinite transport blockade has plummeted our targets and we have fallen the victims,” Hasanul Iqbal, spokesman of Kuakata Investors Forum said.
Holiday makers are cancelling their tours because in case they get stuck for the strikes and blockades, their expenses might get doubled, opined leaders of Kuakata tourism business community.
Jony Alamgir, director of Kuakata Sea Tourism, said: “We have 18 boat-based tourism facilities in Kuakata with 15-20 staff. Now we are passing days in anxiety over how to disburse salaries to the staff.”
