Stakeholders gear up for tourist restrictions in St. Martin
Staff Reporter :
In response to the government’s decision to halt tourist stays on St. Martin’s Island, various stakeholders, including bus, hotel, and boat owners, are preparing for a strong protest.
They have called for sustainable tourism development on the island to protect its biodiversity, according to a press release from the St. Martin’s Island Environment and Tourism Protection Committee issued on Sunday.
The committee emphasized the need to safeguard the lives and livelihoods of the island’s 10,000 residents, who depend solely on tourism. The interim government recently announced that no tourists would be allowed to stay overnight in St. Martin during November. In December and January, only 2,000 tourists will be permitted to visit the island during the day and stay overnight. Additionally, tourist access will be completely restricted in February.
The St. Martin’s Island Environment and Tourism Protection Committee has strongly condemned these decisions, arguing that such actions will severely damage the tourism industry and devastate local entrepreneurs. After multiple press conferences, the organization has decided to take to the streets to voice their concerns.
Shiblul Azam Qureshi, Chairman of the St. Martin’s Island Environment and Tourism Protection Committee, stated that various conspiracies are being orchestrated against the island.
He accused certain individuals of attempting to obstruct the country’s tourism sector through stringent regulations on tourist activities in St. Martin, which he believes will lead to significant harm.
To protest against the government’s decisions regarding St. Martin, a human chain and protest march will be organized on Monday at 10 AM in front of the National Museum at Shahbagh, Dhaka. The chief guest will be Mohammad Rafeeuzzaman, President of the Tour Operators Association of Bangladesh (TOAB).
The protest will see participation from various organizations, including TOAB, the St. Martin’s Island Environment and Tourism Protection Development Coalition, the E-Tourism Association of Bangladesh (ETAB), the Tour Operators Associations of Cox’s Bazar and Kuakata, the St. Martin’s Hotel Owners Association, the St. Martin Shop Owners Association, the Boat Owners Cooperative Association, the Fishermen’s Owners Association, the Bangladesh Sleeper AC Bus Owners Association, and the Sea Cruise Operators Owners Association of Bangladesh (SCUAB), along with leaders from all tourism-related organizations.
The St. Martin’s Island Environment and Tourism Protection Committee also emphasizes the need for sustainable tourism development while protecting the island’s environment and biodiversity. They advocate for the establishment of a water treatment plant to convert saline water into fresh water, the management of biodegradable waste to produce biogas, the installation of environmentally friendly solar plants instead of diesel generators, and stricter regulations on the construction of permanent structures using brick, sand, cement, and rods.