S A Shofiee, Sylhet:
The government has declared a holiday from October 1 (Wednesday) by executive order on the occasion of Mahanavami of the autumn Durga Puja. The next day, October 2 (Thursday), there is also a government holiday on the occasion of Vijaya Dashami. Then, October 3 and 4 (Friday and Saturday) are weekly holidays. As a result, government employees will be on holiday for four consecutive days (October 1-4).
Tourists have started flocking to Sylhet even before the start of this consecutive holiday. On September 26 (Friday), Jaflong, Bholaganj, and Bichanakandi in Sylhet were bustling with tourists on the weekend. Despite the hardships on the roads, tourists have flocked to Sylhet during this Puja holiday. In addition, there is a shortage of rooms in hotels and motels during the Puja holiday as the Sylhet National Cricket League (NCL) is ongoing. About 200 rooms have been booked in various hotels in the city for NCL players and officials until October 12. Due to which there will be a room shortage for tourists.
Talking to hotel-motel traders and tourism-related people in Sylhet, it has been learned that tourists have been booking hotels-motels and resorts in Sylhet through various channels for the last 15 days. Already, almost 100% of the good hotels have been booked. As a result, there is a possibility of a room shortage for tourists coming to Sylhet from today.
According to the concerned sources, advance booking has already been completed in almost all the hotels in Sylhet. The administration has given necessary instructions so that tourists do not face any harassment.
Tourism-related people said,
Ignoring the hardships on the road in Sylhet, tourists have flocked to the city during this Puja holiday. In addition, there is a room shortage in hotels and motels during the Puja holiday as the Sylhet National Cricket League (NCL) is ongoing. About 200 rooms have been booked in various hotels in the city for NCL players and officials until October 12. Due to which there will be a room shortage for tourists.
Talking to hotel-motel traders and tourism-related people in Sylhet, it has been learned that tourists have been booking hotels-motels and resorts in Sylhet through various channels for the last 15 days. Already, almost 100% of the good hotels have been booked. Especially, there are no vacant rooms in the big hotels and resorts. Hotel owners said that even when tourists call, they have to be turned away because there are no vacant rooms.
There are more than 500 hotels, motels and resorts in Sylhet division. Most of them are tourist-dependent. The main tourist centers here are Jaflong, Sadapathar, Ratargul and Bichnakandi.
Hotel traders in the Mazar Dargah area of ​​Hazrat Shahjalal (RA) in Sylhet city said, we wait for such extra holidays and festivals all year round. Tourists come more on such opportunities. This time, almost all the rooms have been booked in advance. Grand Palace Hotel and Resort Sylhet Manager (Operations) Faruk Ahmed said, “It is not possible to make any more bookings at our hotel, all the rooms have already been booked.”
Sumat Nuri Jewel, president of the Sylhet Hotel-Motel and Guest House Owners Association, said that due to NSIL, about 200 rooms in various hotels in Sylhet have been booked until October 12. Due to which tourists are likely to face a hotel crisis this time.we are vigilant in implementing the instructions given by the district administration for the safety of tourists,He said.
