Around 3lakh tourists are expected to be visiting Cox’s Bazar during the long Eid-ul-Fitr and Pohela Boishakh holidays this year; already more than 80% of the rooms in 500 local hotels have been booked in advance, said tour operators and hotel owners.
“We are expecting 3-3.5 lakh tourists after Eid. Many hotels are offering discounts ranging from 10-50% to attract tourists,” Cox's Bazar Tour Operators Association President Tofail Ahmed said.
Cox's Bazar Hotel-Motel Guest House Owners Association President Abul Kashem Sikdar said that 80% of the rooms in the hotels and motels have been booked in advance.
Those concerned think that the tourism business will be strengthened during the long vacation.
Meanwhile, Bangladesh Railway has launched a special train service between Chattogram and Dhaka for 10 days after Eid to ease the commute of tourists to Cox's Bazar.
Kamalapur Station Master Golam Rabbani said that the Bangladesh Railways will operate Turna Express on the Dhaka-Chattogram route and Mahanagar and Meghna Express run on the Chattogram-Chandpur route on those 10 days.
According to Cox's Bazar district administration, several mobile teams, led by magistrates will perform duties to prevent any kind of harassment of tourists.
Besides, an additional police force will be deployed.
Cox's Bazar Additional District Magistrate Md Yamin Hossain said, “Everyone has been warned not to harass tourists in any way. If someone causes any kind of untoward incident, action will be taken immediately.”
Additional DIG of Tourist Police (Cox's Bazar Region) Apel Mahmud said they have taken adequate measures for the safety of tourists.
