The president of Tour Operators Association of Bangladesh (TOAB) Mohammad Rafeuzzaman said that they will go on a greater movement to save the industries if tourists stop visiting and staying overnight in Saint Martin island.
He said these this at a press conference organized by the St. Martin's Island Environment and Tourism Protection and Development Alliance in the auditorium of the Economic Reporters Forum (ERF) in the capital on Sunday.
Local leaders of St Martin including St Martin's Island Environment and Tourism Protection and Development Alliance Chairman Shiblul Azam Qureshi, HR Group Chairman and Alliance Publicity Secretary Habibur Rahman and E-Tourism Association of Bangladesh (E-TAB) President Imranul Alam, among others spoke at the press conference.
TOAB president Rafeuzzaman said, “Despite our strong objections, the government has decided to limit overnight stays and tourist travel in St. Martin. According to the government, no tourist can spend the night in Saint Martin in November. In December and January, 2,000 tourists can travel to St. Martin and spend the night.”
And in February, the government will stop tourist travel in St. Martin. The tourism industry will be greatly affected and the sector entrepreneurs will be destroyed following stoping such seasonal business, he pointed out.
Shiblul Azam Qureshi, Chairman of St. Martin's Island Environment and Tourism Protection and Development Alliance, said in the press conference, to maintain the balance of the environment in St. Martin's island, to strictly stop the use of single-use plastic and to continue tourism without any restrictions, including overnight stays, and to create an alternative route to travel from Teknaf to St. Martin. "We want to protect the environment and biodiversity of St. Martin, but not by stopping tourism. Instead, it takes all the necessary steps in favor of the environment,” He added.
Leaders of TOAB, Tour Operators Association of Cox's Bazar, St. Martin's Island Environment and Tourism Protection and Development Alliance, E-Tourism Association of Bangladesh (E-TAB), Tour Operators Association of Kuakata, St. Martin Hotel Owners Association, Tour Operators Association of St Martin, St. Martin Shop Owners Association, St. Martin Boat Owners Cooperative Association, Fishermen Owners Association, Leaders of Bangladesh Sleeper AC Bus Owners Association, Ship Owners Association, Sea-Cruise Operators Leaders of Owners Association of Bangladesh (SQUAB) were present.
