Like many other sectors hit by the ongoing political unrest, a massive blow has also been dealt to the tourism businesses in Moulvibazar, popular to vacationers for its tea gardens and protected forests.
As the indefinite blockade continues to limit movement on highways and railways across the country, the hotels and resorts in Moulvibazar – especially in Sreemangal upazila – are seeing almost no clients check in for the past month.
Talking to many individuals involved in the tourism business in the district, the Dhaka Tribune learned that many of the tourist establishments have had to temporarily let go of their employees as a consequence of the indefinite blockade.
The Grand Sultan Tea Resort and Golf – a high-end tourist destination in Sreemangal which reportedly has a monthly maintenance cost of Tk1.8 crore – was not even able to earn enough to meet its costs last month, said authorities concerned. Many of the bookings by corporate organisations and tourists were cancelled because of the political situation, they added.
Palash Chowdhury, public relations officer for the resort, told the Dhaka Tribune that only a handful of clients have been checking in since the blockade began. Business was in a devastated state, he said, adding that the near-empty resort was now only being kept open for maintenance.
The number of guests at DuSai Resort and Spa – a boutique tourist establishment in the district’s Nitteshwar – stood at zero on February 10, with all 65 of its rooms staying empty.
Al-Amin, a receptionist at the resort, told the Dhaka Tribune that their expected guests had to cancel their bookings as they could not come to Moulvibazar because of the uncertainty on the roads during the hartals and blockade.
Other hotels in the district have also been facing a grim situation since the 20-party alliance’s countrywide blockade began on January 6.
The owner of Hermitage Guest House, Sultana Foyzunnahar, said she had to send three of her employees on leave during the past month, as no money had been coming in for the establishment that has an average monthly maintenance cost of Tk1.5 lakh.
Authorities at Rain Forest Resort, a tourist establishment on Sreemongol’s Habiganj Road, said they were running their operations at a rented house. Manager of the resort, Ejaj Hossain Chowdhury, said many of the house-based hotels in the popular tourist area were suffering the tough consequences of the non-stop blockade.
Kazi Shamsul Haque – owner of Radhanagar’s Lichu Bari Resort – said he had to send his head chef, a manager, and two security guards on unpaid leaves as the resort could not attract any tourists even when rooms of Tk2,000 charge were offered for only Tk500.
Shamsul added that foreigners – who are the main client base for the resort – were unable to travel to Moulvibazar during the ongoing blockade. As a result, the booking money had to be returned.
Shyamol Deb Verma, a tourist guide, said a large number of tourists came to the national park during January-February. But this year, the numbers had gone down drastically, he said, adding that the reduced number has put the livelihoods of the guides at risk.
