Cox’s Bazar is buzzing with a stream of tourists as people have flocked to the beach city during the Eid-ul-Fitr vacation.
Hoteliers are happy with the rush after a long lull amid the coronavirus pandemic. They say that the number of tourists may go even higher in the next couple of days.
This year the Eid fell on Tuesday. Therefore, public and private job holders will get holidays till next Saturday.
Hoteliers expect to host around 200,000 tourists per day during the Eid holidays in the city.
Thousands of tourists were seen thronging the beaches on Wednesday.
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Some wandered across the vast beach, some rode horses, while some made sand motifs. Many relaxed under an umbrella on the beach. Tourists clicked photos to capture the moments of joy. Children have also come with their families.
However, some tourists who do not like to roam around in a crowd have expressed frustration due to mismanagement and the high price of food and other products.
Nur Hossain came to Cox’s Bazar with his family from Gazipur. He said he had chosen the city for spending the holidays at peace. He had booked rooms at a hotel in advance and plans to stay two more days there.
Another tourist Safiul Alam told this reporter that he had planned to visit the beach a year ago. His family was enjoying the salty water and fresh air of Cox’s Bazar.
Mahbub Chowdhury and Sweety got married recently. This is their first Eid together. The couple said that they came to Cox’s Bazar as it was their first choice on such an occasion. They also praised the local cuisine and said that they were having a good time.
Tourist Police said that they were ensuring security at seven different points in the beach area. They were also conducting awareness campaigns among the tourists regarding the preservation of the beach.
Abul Kashem Shikder, general secretary of the Federation of Tourism Owners' Association of Bangladesh, told Dhaka Tribune that 90% of the rooms in over 500 hotels, resorts and guest houses in the city were already booked.
Md Rezaul Karim, additional superintendent of Tourist Police in Cox’s Bazar, said that local people also thronged different beaches in the city alongside tourists.
He said that the force was ready to ensure security for the tourists.
The district administration has also taken measures so that the hoteliers cannot overcharge the tourists. These measures include hanging a price list at every hotel and conducting mobile courts during the holidays.
