Despite the coronavirus epidemic, tourist spots of Chattogram, the country's main tourist zone, are full of tourists on Friday. Tourists from across the country and some foreigners are roaming along the sea beaches and in the hilly areas of Chattogram, Coxs Bazar, Rangamati and Bandarban districts.
Officials informed that measures have been taken to ensure the safety of the tourists including prevention of coronavirus infection among the tourists. Mobile teams of district administration and RAB are working so that safety and hygiene are kept ensured due to heavy flow of tourists in the region.
Tourists flock to Cox's Bazar beach on the holiday. There is no room vacant in Cox’s Bazar, the main tourist district in the country as the number of tourists has increased since Thursday. Hotels, motels and guest houses are all booked.
Addition of two-day weekly holiday with the International Mother Language Day, a one-day public holiday on February 21, many people gathered for unconstrained joy to tourist destinations mainly Cox's Bazar, the beach city.
On Friday afternoon an overflowing crowd of tourists were seen in Labone, Kolatoli, Sugondha, Himchori, Inani points of the sea beach and many other places. From Nazirartek to Kalatali point, it has the largest tourist crowd.
Ruhi and Faisal, a tourist couple from Khalishpur of Khulna, said they left for Cox's Bazar on Wednesday night. As their room in a hotel was booked before so they had no trouble here, they added.
Nurain, Tahira Wasia tourists from Manikganj said, “We feel very good after coming to Cox's Bazar. We were locked in the house for a long time due to lockdown. We have come to Cox's Bazar to get rid of that fatigue.”
Some tourists in Cox’s Bazar and Rangamati, have complained that in addition to enjoying nature at this time of spring, many tourists are in trouble for not getting hotel rooms as per the booking. Unscrupulous hotel and restaurant traders and seasonal tourist guides are earning extra money from the tourists.
Al Azad and Rafiqul Islam, tourists from Sylhet, said, "In a Cox’s Bazar hotel I got the room after facing a lot of difficulties. I had to pay double fare even I booked the room a month ago."
Rafiqul Islam and Faridul Alam, tourists from Gazipur complained that the hotel authorities had taken rents three times more than the normal booking rent from them. Besides, the price of food is also higher than another time of the year.
Apart from sea beach, crowds of tourists have also seen at various tourist spots including Patuartek, Mathiner Koop, Bangabandhu Safari Park, Maheshkhali's Adinath Temple, Ramu Buddhist Monastery.
Golam Kibria, Founder President of Tour Operators Association of Bangladesh, said, “Many tourists have come this time. Operators are working to extend their best service to the tourists.
Abdul Qayyum, Managing Director of Hotel the Cox Today and general secretary of the Cox's Bazar Hotel Owners Association said, "Our quality hotels were booked about a month ago." We did not raise any rent. Though we had suffered a lot, due to lockdown last one year. Many quality hotels have not yet gone into full operation, If the rising trend of tourists arrival continues, we will be able to make up at least some portion of the losses.
Alhaj Omar Sultan, president of the Cox's Bazar Hotel Guest House Owners' Association, said all our hotel rooms had been booked long ago.
Kasem Ali, vice-president of the Cox's Bazar Restaurant Owners' Association, said many of our restaurants are still closed due to the coronavirus pandemic. But we are urging our members to maintain the quality and keep the normal price of food.
Mobile teams of the district administration and RAB are working to ensure that tourists are not harassed in any way. Lifeguards are working to ensure that no tourists get lost while taking a bath in the beach.
Lifeguard worker Yasin said they rescued four tourists who were floating in the water on Friday.
Md Zillur Rahman, Superintendent of Tourist police in Coxs Bazar said members of the tourist police were working at tourist spots, including Cox's Bazar beach, to ensure the safety of tourists.
Police has stepped up patrols along with the tourist police to ensure the safety of tourists as tourists are roaming in the entire district. Security is being closely monitored through CCTV and the Watch Tower, he added.
Md Mamunur Rashid, Deputy Commissioner of Cox's Bazar said, two teams of the district administration are working round the clock to ensure that no tourist is harassed. Beach staff as well as members of several service organizations are working for the tourists. Besides, special instructions are given at the entrances of the beaches to make the incoming tourists comply with the hygiene rules.
