Thousands Flock to Saint Martin’s Island as Tourist Season Kicks Off

The number of tourists on the Cox’s Bazar to Saint Martin sea route keeps growing. This season, a record 1,754 tourists traveled to Saint Martin in one day. They left yesterday, Friday morning, from Nuniarchhara jetty in Cox’s Bazar on four ships. On 5 November, the first day of the season, 827 tourists went. On 6 November, 1,450 went.

MV Malanch carried tourists for the first time yesterday. It left in the morning with MV Baro Aulia, Karnaphuli Express and MV Teknaf. The ships reached the island at noon. They stayed one to one and a half hours and began the return trip in the afternoon. They were due back in Cox’s Bazar at night.

MV Baro Aulia has 850 seats and carried 593 tourists. Karnaphuli Express has 732 seats and carried 500. MV Teknaf has 732 seats and carried 419. MV Malanch has 600 seats and carried 242. In total, 1,754 tourists traveled in one day.

Another modern ship, Keari Sindbad, has joined the fleet with 346 seats. It has not started carrying passengers yet. The five ships together can carry 3,244 people. The daily limit for tourists is 3,500.

Mr. Abdus Sattar Joy, director of MV Malanch, said the ship finished all approvals and preparations. He said it will serve until the last day of the season. Some tourists are unhappy about the long sea trip from Cox’s Bazar and the ship fares. Before, tourists could go from Teknaf in a short time. Now they travel a long way from Cox’s Bazar, which costs more time and money.

One tourist said he had long seen the island in videos. He is visiting for the first time with his family. He finds the long sea trip exciting. Another tourist, Mr. Osman Ali, said the six to seven hour sea trip is tiring. Earlier, visitors could go from Teknaf and return the same day. That option is gone, and the fare is also higher. Still, he is going to the island for a holiday.

Tourism workers say the season starts with fewer tourists. Numbers rise on holidays like Friday and Saturday. They expect more tourists in December and January. Mr. Hossain Islam Bahadur, General Secretary of the Sea Cruise Operators Owners Association of Bangladesh (SCOAB), said a good number of tourists go on Fridays and Saturdays this month. Advance bookings suggest ship seats will be full every day next month. Five ships have permission to run, and four ran on Friday. The other ship will start regular service soon.

Mr. M A Rahim Jihadi, president of the Saint Martin Hotel and Resort Owners Association, said the island can host 5,000 tourists a night. Tourist numbers are still low because the season has just started. He said all hotels and resorts are fully booked in advance for December. They expect a large crowd in December and January.

The authorities have set rules this season to protect the island’s fragile nature. Each tourist pays an environment protection fee of 100 taka. A travel pass and a QR code ticket are also required. These steps help control tourist numbers, record travel data and protect the environment.

Lights at night on the beach and nearby areas are banned. Loud noise and barbecue parties are also banned. Visitors may not enter the Keya forest or collect and sell keya fruit. All vehicles, including motorbikes and sea bikes, are banned on the beach. People must not harm sea turtles, birds, corals, snails, oysters, starfish, king crabs, sea grass, algae or any other natural resource of the island.

Government rules allow tourists to visit from 1 November to 15 March next year. Tourists can also stay overnight on the island. Experts say protecting the island’s environment and biodiversity must remain the top priority.