The government’s decision to once again restrict tourist access to St Martin’s Island during peak season has triggered widespread concern among residents and business owners, many of whom depend almost entirely on tourism for survival. Locals fear that if the ban on overnight stays in November remains in place, as it did last year, the livelihoods of nearly one-third of the island’s population will be thrown into uncertainty.
Under the current policy, tourism is permitted for only three months of the year in an effort to protect the island’s fragile coral ecosystem. Visitors are allowed in November but cannot stay overnight. Overnight stays are permitted in December and January, though the number of tourists is capped at 2,000 per day. In February, the island will be closed entirely for conservation and cleanup activities.
For residents, however, these restrictions have come at a steep cost. Md Tayyab Ullah, manager of Hotel Mermaid Resort, explained that the new travel routes from Inani or Nunia Chhara give tourists less than an hour to spend on the island before returning, making it nearly impossible for businesses to benefit. “This will cause devastating losses to the economy and discourage tourists massively,” he said.
Local entrepreneurs argue that the ban is crippling the island’s economy, which relies on tourism for up to 90% of household incomes. They have urged the government to allow overnight stays during the peak season and to resume ship operations from Teknaf’s Damdamiya Ghat, which previously enabled day-long visits.
Shibli Azam Qureshi, president of the Hotel and Resort Owners Association, warned that the restrictions could wipe out jobs and devastate the local economy. “We prepare throughout the year for this period. But the decision to restrict overnight stays has left us devastated. Employment will vanish, and the local tourism industry will crumble,” he said.
The impact is not limited to hotels and resorts. Small traders, including dried fish sellers and coconut vendors, are also facing ruin. Ismail Hossain, a dried fish trader, said, “Tourists are the foundation of our business. If they can’t stay overnight, our income will drop to zero for the entire season.”
While conservationists argue that the measures are necessary to protect the island’s biodiversity, critics say the government has failed to balance environmental protection with economic survival. For the thousands of families who depend on tourism, the restrictions have turned peak season into a period of deep uncertainty.
Tags: St Martin’s Island tourism ban, Bangladesh coral island restrictions, St Martin overnight stay ban, St Martin’s Island economy crisis, Teknaf Damdamiya Ghat ship route, St Martin Hotel Owners Association, Bangladesh tourism conservation, St Martin dried fish traders, St Martin peak season restrictions, Bangladesh coral reef protection.
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