After a month of quiet during Ramadan, Cox’s Bazar is once again teeming with tourists as Eid-ul-Fitr holidays bring a surge of visitors.
Despite hotels and resorts slashing room rates by up to 75% during Ramadan, the lack of tourists had left businesses struggling. Many tourism-dependent restaurants and shops remained closed.
However, the holiday season has now revived the city’s vibrancy, with tourists arriving from Monday afternoon and numbers expected to rise from Tuesday as visitors from other districts make their way to the coastal town.
Earlier, hotels, resorts and restaurants underwent cleaning and renovations in preparation for the influx, with small business owners and street vendors also gearing up for the season.
Tourism operators anticipate a significant number of visitors due to the extended nine-day holiday. Cox’s Bazar remained a top travel destination, offering not just the beach but also mountains, rivers and waterfalls, said industry insiders.
According to hotel owners, an average of 250,000 to 300,000 tourists visited Cox’s Bazar weekly in the four months before Ramadan. Last year’s Eid-ul-Fitr holidays saw hundreds of thousands of tourists, and this year, pre-bookings indicate a similar turnout.
Between April 2 and 5, around 80% of hotel rooms have been booked, with luxury hotels securing reservations until April 12.
Five hundred-plus hotels, motels and guesthouses in the city and on Marine Drive can accommodate around 170,000 tourists.
Moukhim Khan, general secretary of the Kolatoli Marine Drive Hotel and Guesthouse Owners’ Association, advised tourists to book accommodations in advance to avoid inconvenience.
Businessman Rezaul Karim Reza expressed optimism, saying: “We expect hundreds of thousands of tourists this season, and all businesses are fully prepared. Safety and service will also be top priorities.”
Restaurants that were closed during Ramadan are reopening, with staff returning to work. "We sent our employees on leave during Ramadan, but from Tuesday, they will all be back," said Mahmudul Haque, a restaurant manager in Kolatoli. Around 700 restaurants in the tourism zone had remained closed during Ramadan.
Local vendors selling seashells, dried fish and handicrafts are also preparing for brisk business. Jasim Uddin, a shop owner at Laboni Point, hopes for a profitable season after a slow Ramadan.
Operators of beach chairs, umbrellas, water bikes and horse rides have also resumed services.
"Ramadan was nearly devoid of tourists, but the Eid holidays will bring a large crowd," said Farida Akter, president of the local horse owners’ association.
To ensure safety, the Tourist Police has intensified patrols.
Additional Deputy Inspector General Md Apple Mahmud confirmed round-the-clock security at tourist hotspots, with other law enforcement agencies also on high alert.
Deputy Commissioner Mohammad Salahuddin said authorities had coordinated efforts to facilitate hassle-free tourism.
Mobile courts led by executive magistrates would be deployed to prevent overcharging, harassment and other issues, he told Dhaka Tribune, adding that immediate action would be taken against any violations.
