Tourists visiting St Martin’s Island will be allowed to stay overnight throughout the four-and-a-half-month tourist season, from 1 November to 15 March, following a revised government directive that has resolved confusion over the duration of overnight stays.
The decision has brought relief to island residents and tourism businesses after months of uncertainty over restrictions on tourist visits.
However, tourist vessels will not operate from 1 November as scheduled, as operators are yet to obtain all the required government approvals.
Tourists will also have to pay a Tk100 environmental conservation fee, while several restrictions aimed at protecting the island’s environment and biodiversity will remain in place.
The Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change issued the revised notification on 27 October, two days after an earlier directive created confusion over overnight stays in November and February-March.
Sabrina Rahman, senior assistant secretary of the ministry, told journalists that the confusion over overnight stays during November and February-March had been resolved, allowing tourists to stay on the island throughout the approved period.
Under the previous directive, issued on 22 October last year, tourists were allowed to visit the island only during the daytime in November and had to return the same day. Overnight stays were permitted only in December and January.
The earlier instructions created uncertainty among tourists, hotel and restaurant owners, and ship operators. The revised directive has now confirmed that overnight stays will be allowed throughout the season.
Tourist ships await government clearance
Although tourist visits have been approved from 1 November, no vessels will operate on the route on the opening day as they are yet to receive all the necessary government clearances.
Three vessels – Karnaphuli Express, MV Baro Awlia and MV Teknaf – are ready to operate on the route.
According to sources, the vessels have received clearance from the Department of Environment but are still awaiting approval from the Bangladesh Inland Water Transport Authority (BIWTA), the Department of Shipping and the Cox’s Bazar district administration.
Hossain Islam Bahadur, general secretary of the Sea Cruise Operators Owners Association of Bangladesh (SCOAB), said the three vessels had received environmental clearance to transport tourists to the island.
Together, the vessels can carry 2,300 passengers.
He said the environmental clearance was received on Thursday morning, but the Department of Shipping had yet to issue the required voyage licence. BIWTA had also not announced the route permit and schedule, while approval from the Cox’s Bazar deputy commissioner was still pending.
Tourists are already interested in booking tickets, but the Bangladesh Tourism Board’s booking software has not yet been opened.
“We hope these problems will be resolved within the next couple of days,” Bahadur said.
He expressed hope that the three vessels would be able to begin carrying tourists to St Martin’s on 5 or 6 November.
Daily tourist limit raised to 3,500
Under the revised arrangements, the daily limit for visitors to Saint Martin’s has been increased to 3,500. Each tourist will have to pay a Tk100 environmental conservation fee.
Visitors will also need a travel pass to enter the island, as was required last year.
Barrister Mutasim Billah Faruqi, chief executive of the Bangladesh Tourism Board, said preparations were underway to introduce the travel pass system again.
Tourists will have to book QR-code-enabled tickets through the Tourism Board before travelling to the island.
Environmental restrictions remain in force
Several restrictions introduced last year to protect the island’s environment and biodiversity will remain in place during the upcoming tourist season.
Lighting up beaches and adjoining areas at night, creating noise and organising barbecue parties will remain prohibited.
Entering “Keya forests”, as well as collecting, buying or selling fruit, will also be prohibited.
Tourists will not be allowed to harm marine turtles, birds, coral, snails, shells, starfish, horseshoe crabs, seagrass, algae or other forms of biodiversity found on the island.
Motorcycles and water vehicles such as jet skis will also remain prohibited on the beach.
Fire safety under administrative scrutiny
Fire safety at hotels and resorts on the island has emerged as a major concern following a fire at TupTup Rest and Resort in Patuartek, Inani, under Ukhiya upazila, along the Marine Drive in Cox’s Bazar, which killed 10 tourists.
The administration is now examining fire safety arrangements at residential hotels and resorts on St Martin’s. The island has also experienced a recent fire incident.
Kamruzzaman Sumon, station commander of Teknaf Fire Service Station, said he had recently joined the station and that the Fire Service would assess the need for a fire station and trained personnel on the island.
Fayzul Islam, acting chairman of Saint Martin’s Union Parishad, said he had discussed fire safety with the Fire Service following the resort fire.
He said hotels and resorts had been instructed to keep fire extinguishers on their premises. However, he did not see an immediate possibility of establishing a permanent Fire Service station on the island.
For now, priority is being given to ensuring that hotels and resorts have firefighting equipment.
Local residents, however, said simply keeping fire extinguishers would not be enough to ensure tourists’ safety. They stressed the need for regular inspections to ensure the equipment works properly, alongside safe electrical connections, kitchen fire safety arrangements, emergency exits and trained staff at every hotel, resort and cottage.
Residents said that when fires break out at hotels, resorts or restaurants, locals often have to rely on household water pipes to control the flames, with assistance from law enforcement personnel.
They warned that limited equipment would be insufficient to contain a major fire.
Barrister Mutasim Billah Faruqi, chief executive of the Bangladesh Tourism Board, said the government had taken various initiatives under the National Tourism Policy to ensure tourist safety.
He said the government had introduced new guidelines to regulate tourist visits to Saint Martin’s. Visitors must travel with a travel pass and QR-code-enabled tickets issued through the Tourism Board. Night-time lighting, noise and barbecue parties have also been prohibited.
Relief and renewed activity among islanders
The resumption of tourist visits has brought relief and excitement among St Martin’s residents, many of whom depend on tourism for their livelihoods.
Island residents and business owners hope the return of tourists will revive economic activity, reopen hotels, resorts and restaurants, and create more income opportunities for local people.
Fayzul Islam said people from different professions on the island were now busy preparing for the arrival of tourists, with business owners renovating their establishments.
SM Anik Chowdhury, Teknaf upazila nirbahi officer (UNO), told journalists that St Martin’s is a major tourist destination and that up to 3,500 visitors would be allowed to visit the island daily from 1 November.
He said the Coast Guard, Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB), Navy and Bangladesh Police were working to ensure visitors’ security.
The UNO also said the administration had discussed fire safety with hotel and motel owners and warned that action would be taken soon against establishments that had not installed adequate firefighting arrangements.
Business owners, however, assured the administration that they would take the necessary steps to improve fire safety.
