People flocking to different tourist spots in country

Syed Shemul Parvez :
People are flocking to the different tourist’s spots of the country including the Sajek, Cox’s Bazar and Patuakhali’s Kuakata sea beaches due to the three-day long weekend.
Along with the two days of the weekend on Friday and Saturday, office workers got an additional holiday on Sunday, December 25 for Christmas.
In Sajek, Baghaichhari upazila of Rangamati, known as Meghar state, is crowded with thousands of tourists during the three-day holiday. The resort-cottage owners have to suffer as more tourists come. Unable to get a room, many spent the night on resort-cottage balconies and even on the streets. Others spent the night in the car.
Tourism officials said that on the occasion of weekly and Christmas holidays, all the resort-cottages in Sajek are fully booked a month in advance. Those who came to Sajek on Friday without prior booking did not find any rooms available. As a result, many went back in the afternoon. Those who stayed roamed the streets till night without finding a room anywhere.
Later, Sajek Tourist Center Resort-Cottage Owners Association announced and asked tourists to go to the Lusai Club House. Some tourists were accommodated there. Still, some of those who did not get any accommodation took shelter in nearby Tripura Palli houses. Rest of them stayed on the streets. Some fell asleep in the car.
Russell Ahmed, Manager of Sajek Chander Bari Resort, said, “Our resorts are booked before in advance. This month is fully booked. Many tourists did not get a place in the cottage due to the influx of tourists during the continuous holiday. So many people spend the night on the street or on the balcony of various cottages.
Yasin Arafat, lineman of Sajek Jeep Association, said about 350 vehicles entered Sajek on Friday. Many of those who came with private vehicles but did not book rooms in advance returned in the afternoon. It is alleged that those who didn’t get a room had to stay outside.
About 85 per cent of those who arrived on Friday left this morning. Even on Saturday about 200 jeeps and about 50 private cars have entered Sajek. Today the situation may not be the same as Friday.
Sajek Resort Owners Association Acting President Chaithwai Aung Chowdhury told Jai the media that there was difficulty in staying tourists on Friday due to the large number of tourists leaving due to the closure for three consecutive days. We have made arrangements for tourists to stay in some nearby houses including the Lusai club house. Still, some tourists had to stay on the verandas of the cottages.
He also said that the capacity of 112 cottages in Saje is three to three and a half thousand people. But about 6 thousand tourists came to Sajek only on Friday.
Meanwhile, our Cox’s Bazar correspondent reports also a similar circumstance during three day public holiday. It is known that thousands of tourists swarmed the beach since Thursday. Enormous tourists also went the Cox’s Bazar on Friday and Saturday which over crowded the spot. Law enforcement officers are working to ensure their safety around the clock.
Sources said most hotels and motels around the city had been booked by Thursday as tourist traffic increased for the holiday. Hotel owners expect more tourists will check in by Friday for the vacation.
One of the most popular beaches of the town, Laboni Point was crowded with thousands of tourists since Thursday. Tourist Police expect more tourist traffic by Saturday.
Travellers are also flocking to other tourist spots of the city, including St. Martin’s Island, Inani Beach, Himchari National Park, the Buddhist temple in Ramu, and Maheshkhali Adinath Temple.
The manager of Hotel The Cox Today said they did not get many tourists at the beginning of the month but the hotel was booked to full capacity this weekend.
Delwar Hossain, Officer-in-Charge (OC) of Tourist Police Cox’s Bazar Region said, “Our teams are working hard to ensure the safety of all tourists. Thousands of tourists will visit the city this weekend.”
Cox’s Bazar Tourist Cell Magistrate Masum Billah said their first priority is to ensure the tourist’s comfort and safety. They are working to ensure that the tourists do not get overcharged in any way.
On the other hand, Kuakata Tour Guide Association President KM Bachchu said, “The arrival of tourists has increased since Thursday, and it seems that by Friday-Saturday the town will be very crowded. So we have also taken extra preparations so that we can serve the tourists without any kind of suffering.