Tourist ship operations on Cox’s Bazar–St Martin’s Island route resumes on Monday after a 10-month suspension as authorities allows limited overnight stays under strict environmental guidelines.
Only 2,000 tourists a day will be permitted to travel to the island, and all visitors must comply with government directives aimed at protecting its fragile biodiversity.
Although the government reopened St Martin’s Island to tourists on 1 November, restrictions on night-stays had kept ships from operating. The Teknaf–St Martin’s sea route has also remained closed since last year.
Four ships have now received approval from the district administration to operate from Cox’s Bazar’s Nuniachhara jetty to the island.
Operators say over 1,500 advance tickets for the opening day have already been sold.
Travellers will be required to purchase tickets online through the Bangladesh Tourism Board’s approved portal, which will include a travel pass and QR code. Tickets without QR codes will be deemed invalid.
Hossain Islam Bahadur, general secretary of Sea Cruise Operator Owners Association of Bangladesh, said all preparations have been completed for the season’s first voyage.
“We are committed to ensuring a comfortable and safe journey for tourists,” he said, adding that the industry would benefit greatly if authorities allowed at least four months of overnight stays in future seasons.
The return of visitors has sparked excitement among island residents, who depend heavily on tourism for their livelihoods.
Union Parishad Acting Chairperson Fayezul Islam said locals are eager to welcome tourists despite ongoing challenges.
“Tourism is one of our main sources of survival. The people here will show full hospitality, whatever the difficulties,” he said.
The district administration has confirmed that the 12 government directives for safeguarding biodiversity will be strictly enforced.
Authorities will closely monitor tourist numbers and travel timings to ensure the island’s ecological balance is not disturbed.
The directives include bans on lighting beach areas at night, creating noise, arranging barbecues, entering Kea forests, collecting or selling Kea fruit, and disturbing marine life including turtles, birds, corals, crabs, shells and other species.
Motorcycles, sea-bikes and all motorised vehicles will remain prohibited on the beaches. The use of polythene is banned, and single-use plastics such as chip packets, straws, mini-packs of soap or shampoo and small plastic bottles are discouraged.
Tourists are advised to carry reusable water flasks instead of plastic bottles.
Cox’s Bazar Deputy Commissioner Abdul Mannan said St Martin’s Island is a national treasure and urged tourists to follow the government directives.
“We expect visitors to cooperate with the authorities to help protect the island’s biodiversity and support sustainable tourism,” he said.
Ships will depart from Nuniachhara jetty at 7am and return from St Martin’s at 3pm the following day.
Tourist travel will continue until 31 January.
