While the country prepares for its crucial 13th parliamentary election today, Cox’s Bazar, traditionally bustling with tourists, remains eerily quiet.
The election-related holiday has cast a shadow over the tourism industry in the popular seaside destination, with hotel bookings plummeting to unprecedented lows.
As of 12 February, more than 500 hotels in Cox’s Bazar reported bookings of less than 10 per cent of their total capacity. Local hotel owners, deeply concerned about the lack of tourists, attributed the drop to the election, with many businesses discouraged from attracting visitors during this politically charged time.
“The election has caused a massive decrease in tourist arrivals,” said Rahmat Ullah, managing partner of Hillview Hotel, a mid-range establishment in the area.
“We only have 10 to 12 rooms booked until February 12, a stark contrast to what we typically see during this time of year.”
Abu Taleb, assistant general manager of the upscale Cox Today Hotel, added, “With over 200 rooms, we have just 20 to 25 bookings. Election fever has caused a significant slowdown in tourism here.”
Meanwhile, Asaduzzaman Noor, assistant financial controller at Sayeman Beach Resort, also reported that his luxury property had only secured 50 room bookings, mostly from foreign tourists. “Domestic tourism is nearly nonexistent due to the election period,” he said.
Abul Kashem Sikdar, president of the Cox’s Bazar Hotel and Guesthouse Owners’ Association, highlighted that only around 5,000 bookings had been made across the region’s hotels, despite more than 500 establishments operating.
“We’ve made a collective decision to discourage visitors ahead of the election,” Sikdar explained. “Our priority is to ensure safety and a peaceful election process.”
While the election season brings an extended holiday for many, it has created an unusual vacuum in what is typically a bustling tourist hub. Visitors from across the country, eager for a coastal getaway, are staying away, keeping Cox’s Bazar empty as the nation turns its attention to the polls.
