Uncertainty Clears as MV Baro Aulia Sails for St. Martin’s Carrying 800+ Tourists
Ending a long period of waiting and uncertainty, tourist-carrying vessels have finally resumed their journey towards St. Martin’s Island. On Thursday, 5 November, the ship MV Baro Aulia departed for the country’s sole coral island from the Bangladesh Inland Water Transport Authority (BIWTA) jetty at Nuniyarchhatra in Cox’s Bazar city at 7:30 AM. Over 800 tourists embarked on the voyage to the island on the very first day.
Hosain Islam Bahadur, General Secretary of the Sea Cruise Operators Owner Association of Bangladesh (SCOAB), confirmed the commencement of ship services. Cox’s Bazar District Commissioner Md. A. Mannan also confirmed that official permission had been granted for ship operations. According to relevant sources, while only MV Baro Aulia initiated tourist transport on Thursday, two additional ships, MV Karnafully and MV Teknaf, will join the route starting Friday, 6 November, expanding travel options for tourists.
It is worth noting that under government regulations, tourist travel to St. Martin’s is permitted from 1 November until 15 March 2027. A maximum of 3,500 tourists will be allowed to visit the island per day. However, carrying a travel pass and a QR code-enabled ticket is mandatory for visitors. Additionally, each tourist is required to pay an environmental conservation fee of 100 BDT.
The prolonged suspension of tourist travel has brought business activities to a standstill across St. Martin’s hotels, resorts, restaurants, and tourism-dependent enterprises. Ahead of the new season, these establishments have already completed preparations to welcome visitors. Local traders and stakeholders are optimistic that the resumption of ship services will revitalize the island’s tourism sector.
Nevertheless, authorities and stakeholders are stressing the strict observance of environmental compliance, proper waste management, and tourist regulations. They emphasized that tourism operations must be conducted while fully preserving the natural beauty and biodiversity of St. Martin’s Island.
