Despite tourism season currently at its peak, the upcoming national election has resulted in low turnout of tourists in the district, according to local sources.
They also said that usually the tourist spots and hotels are packed this time of the year, but the polls have changed the tourists’ plans.
Those affiliated with the local hospitality sector said that as a result, 47 hotels, which usually used to be fully occupied through advance booking, are now experiencing low occupancies despite giving attractive discounts.
This has also influenced the local transportation services, consisting of minivans, microbuses and such, who are currently spending idle time.
Two jeep drivers, Sumon Chakraborty and Farid Uddin, told Dhaka Tribune that despite the slump, they expect tourists to visit the district soon after the polls are finished, by January.
The local businesses have also taken a hit, as small entrepreneurs often lay out gift items and other collectibles outside tourist spots such as Ruma upazila’s Boga Lake, Lama, Thanchi, Nafakhum, Meghla Parjatan Complex, Nilachal, Chimbuk, etc, as well as other Burmese markets.
Shibu Das, a local hotelier, said that empty rooms have caused his business to incur losses.
But many others like Shibu opined that if the government took initiatives to salvage the dipping tourism figures, maybe business could pick up.
DC: Foreigners barred from visiting Bandarban ahead of polls
Majority of the law enforcement agencies’ personnel will be assigned to polls-time duty by the end of this month, which is why they will not be able to provide security to foreign tourists.
As a result, foreigners will not be welcomed to Bandarban, the district’s Deputy Commissioner Md Daudul Islam told Dhaka Tribune.
According to sources at the DC’s office, this restriction will be enforced from December 20 till January 6. The decision was taken at a law and order-related meeting at the office on .
Top officials from the police, as well as district’s civil surgeon, returning officer and others were also present at the meeting.
Previously on February 5, 2015, the government imposed the restriction saying if anyone with a foreign passport wants to visit Rangamati, Khagrachhari and Bandarban districts, they will have to submit an application to the home ministry at least a month before the intended visit. But this was rescinded a month later.
