As World Tourism Day is being observed today with various events, tour operators in Khulna are busy preparing their vessels for the upcoming winter season, hoping to revive tourism in the Sundarbans.
However, local business owners are deeply worried after visitor numbers dropped sharply during 2024–25 financial year, leaving operators without a single advance booking just four days before October season begins.
According to Forest Department records, tourists mostly visit the world’s single largest mangrove forest during the winter months from October to February, when the weather is pleasant and the rivers and canals remain cool.
While tourist arrivals grew over the previous five financial years, visitor numbers dropped alarmingly in the latest fiscal period.
Official figures show that in 2018–2019 financial year, 1,89,570 tourists visited the Sundarbans (1,87,309 domestic and 2,261 foreign), bringing in Tk1,51,74,390 in revenue.
In 2019–2020, tourist arrivals stood at 1,72,979 (1,70,063 domestic and 2,317 foreign), generating Tk1,87,65,008 in revenue.
Visitor numbers reached 1,46,211 (1,45,891 domestic and 320 foreign) with Tk1,57,54,166 in revenue in 2020–2021, before rising to 1,55,477 (1,54,374 domestic and 1,103 foreign) with Tk2,24,83,580 in revenue in 2021–2022.
Arrivals peaked in 2022–2023 financial year at 2,16,143 tourists (2,14,000 domestic and 2,143 foreign), earning Tk 3,94,32,480 in revenue.
However, in 2024–25 financial year, total tourist arrivals dropped to around 100,000, with only 40,000 travelling into the forest on tourist ships.
Mazharul Islam Kochi, senior vice-president of the Tour Operators Association of Sundarbans (TOAS) Khulna, confirmed that visitors going to the Karamjal spot on small jali boats were also few, bringing the total figure to no more than around 100,000.
Expressing frustration, Kochi noted that with four days remaining before the tourism season opens in October, operators have received no advance bookings, leaving businessmen anxious about tourist turnout this year.
He blamed the slump on unauthorised resorts built along the fringe of the Sundarbans. These resort owners lure visitors with eye-catching advertisements offering music, food, and stay facilities for couples.
Unaware tourists visit these resorts without entering deep into the forest, while licensed operators inside the Sundarbans cannot play music due to strict official bans.
To protect the natural balance of the mangrove forest and draw more domestic and foreign visitors, a 20-year “Sundarbans Ecotourism Master Plan” has been formulated.
Instead of conventional infrastructure projects, the master plan offers a clear technical roadmap for sustainable tourism while preserving the natural ecosystem.
The plan took nearly two years to draft and was led by Md Wasiul Islam, professor in Forestry and Wood Technology Discipline at Khulna University.
He explained that the master plan serves as a technical roadmap blending the environment and economy of the Sundarbans.
Wasimul mentioned that implementing the plan will boost the domestic tourism sector, strengthen the economic standing of local communities, and accelerate biodiversity conservation.
He added that the project aims to speed up biodiversity conservation through eco-friendly tourism development, management, and marketing, thereby improving local socio-economic conditions.
It also focuses on attracting foreign tourists to earn valuable foreign exchange, noting that international visitors particularly appreciate the peaceful, noise-free, intimate atmosphere and moonlit nights in the forest. The master plan will be carried out in close coordination with residents.
Meanwhile, to mark World Tourism Day, TOAS Khulna organised a special roadshow at 9am on Sunday. The roadshow started from the BIWTA launch ghat, passed the District Commissioner’s office and Shahid Hadis Park, and concluded at Shibbari Circle.
