Kuakata Sea Beach, widely known as the daughter of the sea, has been reopened on Wednesday for cross-sections of people after the three-month long hiatus while industry stakeholders are hopeful that other domestic tourist destinations like Cox’s Bazar sea beach will also open soon.
Industry insiders said that this initiative will help resume the economic activities there and businessmen will not have to count losses.
Kuakata Hotel-Motel Owners Association informed that all tourism-related businesses will be opened in phases after getting nod from the district administration.
Civil Aviation and Tourism Ministry senior secretary Md Muhibul Haque said to the Bangladesh Post, “Tourism activities in Kuakata have resumed today. We are all prepared to restart tourism-related activities. If the coronavirus situation in Cox's Bazar and other tourist destinations does not deteriorate further, we will reopen them gradually after necessary permission from the district administration.”
“We have already written to the Health Ministry to provide medical facilities at the country's other domestic airport and tourist destinations. For lack of such facilities, we are yet unable to resume our activities. However, we are optimistic about getting these facilities soon which will help to recover the country's tourism industry”, he added.
According to the association, Patuakhali district administration imposed restrictions on traveling to Kuakata on March 18 with a view to saving lives from the outbreak of coronavirus.
During that time, stranded tourists also quickly left Kuakata for their respective destinations. Following the district administration’s announcement, all tourism-related businesses came to a halt.
However, though the restriction has been lifted, incoming tourists have to come to Kuakata maintaining safety measures whereas residential hotels and motels must reopen in compliance with the health guidelines.
Kalapara Upazila Nirbahi Officer (UNO) Abu Hasnat Mohammad Shahidul Haque told Bangladesh Post that hotel owners have been asked to operate their business maintaining hygiene rules. Legal action will be taken if any allegation is found, he warned.
In the meantime, country’s domestic tour operators said that more focus on domestic tourism has to be made in the post-pandemic situation. Domestic tourists have to be encouraged for travelling with new enthusiasm as tourism spots are now fresher than ever.
“Indeed it’s a piece of good news that the government is lifting the ban on traveling. We hope that the government will soon gradually reopen all the tourist destinations,” Tour Operators Association of Bangladesh director Md Shahed Ullah told the Bangladesh Post
“Due to the impact of coronavirus, the domestic tourism sector has already incurred a loss of Tk 5500 crore in April-May. If the government does not lift the ban and the prevailing pandemic situation continues, the loss will be standing at Tk 11000 crore at the end of December,” he concluded.
