A comprehensive work plan to regulate tourism on Saint Martin's Island, including a ban on single-use plastics, restrictions on overnight stays, and a cap on the number of tourists, will be finalised by 20 October, Environment Adviser Syeda Rizwana Hasan said today (8 October).
In response to questions about recent recommendations concerning the island, Rizwana Hasan detailed the outcomes of a meeting held with stakeholders, including hotel and ship operators.
"Those who manage hotels and ships on Saint Martin's Island have agreed that single-use plastic should not be permitted. Some even suggested that snacks like chanachur, chips, and pickles should also be banned," she said at a press conference at the Secretariat, following the release of the 'Sundarbans Tiger Survey 2024' results.
She said the discussions also touched on the lack of implementation of previous government decisions concerning the island.
"We asked them why certain consensus-based decisions were not carried out. They mentioned that past governments had made these decisions unilaterally, without proper consultation," the adviser said.
She said a major point of agreement from the meeting was the necessity to limit tourism.
"The government has decided not to allow overnight stays on the island and to impose restrictions on the number of visitors. We asked the stakeholders for their views, and they agreed that controlling the number of tourists is essential," she added.
However, Rizwana said the exact limit on tourist numbers remains under discussion, with stakeholders expected to provide their opinions by 15 October.She went on to say that the Tourism Department and ship operators also have a say in this matter, and their feedback will be incorporated into the final plan.
"We will collect opinions from all relevant parties, including hotel and ship owners," she said, emphasising that a final decision will be made soon.On the issue of stray animals on the island, particularly dogs, Rizwana Hasan noted that hotel owners have expressed willingness to support sterilisation efforts if expert organisations are involved.
The finalised plan, which is expected to be in place by 20 October, aims to protect the island's delicate ecosystem while ensuring sustainable tourism practices.
