Low tourist turnout in Bandarban despite long Eid holiday

Despite the withdrawal of the travel ban, the expected number of tourists did not arrive in Bandarban during the long Eid holiday. Many hotel, motel, resort, and guesthouse rooms in the district remained vacant during the holiday period.

However, the tourist spots are still lively with visitors, especially from nearby areas like Chattogram. Many families and groups of friends have come to explore the beautiful hill district.

They said, “Bandarban is a wonderful place to visit. The security and overall environment are tourist-friendly.”

On Sunday (June 8) and Monday (June 9), tourists were seen exploring popular destinations like Nil Digonto, Nilachal, Nilgiri, Meghla Lake, Prantik Lake, Shailoprapat, Buddhist Temple, Chimbuk Hill—often called the ‘Darjeeling of Bengal’—as well as the Titanic and Double Hands View Points along the Nilgiri road.

Many were also enjoying boat rides on Meghla Lake and exploring waterfalls, mysterious places like Debotakhum, and natural tunnels such as Ali's Tunnel. Visitors said they were happy to be surrounded by the natural beauty of the hills and water.

Tourists were seen taking group photos in front of attractions like the Golden Temple, the statue of Gautam Buddha, hill tunnels, and the hanging bridge at Meghla Lake.

Olik Bhowmik and Jui Saha, a couple from Noakhali, said, “This is our first visit, and we’re loving it. The natural beauty and artistic design of the tourist spots are impressive.”

Tourism businesses and officials hope more tourists will arrive in the next five days. They believe this Eid-ul-Azha will mark a revival of Bandarban’s tourism industry after the long travel restrictions.

Jasim Uddin, General Secretary of the District Hotel Owners’ Association, said that there are over a hundred hotels, motels, resorts, and guesthouses ready to serve tourists in the district. More than 300 tourist vehicles are also available. Overall, around 30,000 people are directly or indirectly involved in the tourism industry in Bandarban.

He added, “There are no more restrictions for visiting the diverse and beautiful areas of Bandarban. All tourist spots in all upazilas are now open to visitors.”

However, he also said, “Even though the travel ban has been lifted, hotel bookings during this Eid holiday have not met expectations, possibly due to the long pause in tourism. Still, we are hopeful that more tourists will come in the coming days.”

Additional Deputy Commissioner Manjurul Haque said, "The administration lifted the travel ban following advice from the army. Now, all of Bandarban is open to tourists with no security concerns. Tourists can visit any spot freely and safely. The administration and law enforcement are working to ensure visitors’ comfort and security."