The Bandarban Tourism Business Coordination Council has announced discounts in various sectors to attract tourists to the Bandarban hill district.
On Thursday morning, business owners made this announcement during a press conference on reopening tourist spots, held in a hotel conference room in Bandarban.
To encourage travel, Mohammad Jasim Uddin, the General Secretary of the Residential Hotel Resort Owners' Association, read a written statement announcing a 35% discount on accommodations in residential hotels, a 25% discount on resort room bookings, a 10% discount on food at hotels and restaurants, and a 20% discount on jeep, microbus, CNG, and Mahindra vehicle rentals.
He also mentioned that the district has approximately 94 hotels and resorts, with a total tourist capacity of 8,500.
Speakers at the press conference included Mohammad Nasirul Alam, convener of the Bandarban District Tourism Business Coordination Council; Mohammad Sirajul Islam, member secretary; Professor Mohammad Osman Gani, owner of Natural Park; Mohammad Jasim Uddin, general secretary of the Residential Hotel Resort Owners' Association; Aminul Islam Bacchu, president of the Press Club; Mohammad Gias Uddin Master, president of the Hotel and Restaurant Owners Association; along with tourism-related business owners and journalists from various print and electronic media.
Prof Mohammad Gias Uddin said: "Everyone depends on tourism. Key tourist spots, especially the main ones, have not yet reopened. We hope that by the end of November, closed tourist centers will reopen, allowing everyone to conduct business this season."
On Wednesday morning, Bandarban Deputy Commissioner Shah Mojahid Uddin announced in a press conference the lifting of the advisory to refrain from traveling. He said that, effective from Thursday, the Bandarban Sadar, Lama, Alikadam, Naikhongchhari, and Nilgiri tourist centers will reopen.
However, tourists are still discouraged from visiting three other upazilas—Ruma, Rowangchhari, and Thanchi—until further notice.
Due to recent violent incidents in the hills, the administration had advised against travel from October 8 to 31, which was later extended until Wednesday. The ban on travel due to the unstable situation led to a complete absence of visitors at Bandarban's tourist centers.
