Saint Martin’s Island, the country’s only coral island, is scheduled to reopen for tourists on Saturday (1 November) after remaining closed for nine months.
However, passenger vessel operators are still reluctant to resume services on the Cox’s Bazar–St Martin route, citing low tourist interest.
The Sea Cruise Operators Owners Association of Bangladesh said tourists are unlikely to visit the island in large numbers in November, as overnight stays remain prohibited until December.
“Although permission has been granted for vessels to operate on the Cox’s Bazar–St Martin route from 1 November, it is not viable to run services due to an insufficient number of passengers,” said Hossainul Islam Bahadur, secretary-general of the association.
He added that preparations are underway to resume full operations in December and January, when tourists will be allowed to stay overnight. Bahadur also noted that if permission is given to operate from Inani, services might begin earlier in November.
At present, a maximum of 2,000 tourists will be allowed to visit the island daily. Bahadur warned that the 12–14-hour round trip from Cox’s Bazar would discourage visitors if they are unable to stay overnight.
Passenger vessels are currently authorised to depart from the BIWTA jetty at North Nuniachhara in Cox’s Bazar. However, due to naval restrictions, vessels are not permitted to operate from the Inani jetty.
The decision follows a letter from the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change to the Ministry of Shipping, BIWTA, and the Department of Shipping earlier this week, granting conditional approval to resume travel.
Several residents and tourism entrepreneurs on St Martin’s, speaking anonymously, criticised Environment Adviser Syeda Rizwana Hasan, accusing her of prioritising environmental protection over the livelihoods of locals and the island’s tourism industry.
Shiblul Azam Qureshi, president of the St Martin Hotel and Resort Owners Association, said: “The government’s efforts to preserve the island’s biodiversity are certainly commendable. But environmental protection should not come at the expense of tourism investment and the livelihoods of local residents.”
Meanwhile, the government has provided Tk 11,400 each to 500 low-income families who lost their income during the nine-month closure, according to Teknaf Upazila Nirbahi Officer Sheikh Ehsan Uddin.
The Department of Environment stated that St Martin’s Island is home to 1,076 species of flora and fauna and had become environmentally vulnerable due to unregulated construction, excessive tourism, and pollution. Officials said the closure has allowed the island’s biodiversity and natural environment to recover significantly.
Authorities plan to close the island to tourists again from February 2026 to protect the environment.
Mohibul Islam, deputy director of the Bangladesh Tourism Board, outlined 12 mandatory guidelines for visitors.
Tickets must be purchased online via the Board’s authorised portal and will include a QR-coded travel pass, tickets without QR codes will be considered invalid.
No unauthorised vessels will be permitted to operate on the route, and tourists are banned from lighting fires, making loud noise, or hosting barbecues. The collection or trade of flora and fauna, including corals, crabs, shells, and birds, is strictly prohibited.
Motorised vehicles, such as motorcycles and sea bikes, are also completely banned on the beach. Tourists have been instructed not to carry single-use plastics or disposable containers, and the use of 500ml and 1,000ml plastic bottles is strongly discouraged.
