Tk1,600cr worth of turnover in 15 days as Cox's Bazar sees year-end rush

Hotels, motels, restaurants and other tourism businesses across various tourist spots in Cox's Bazar have witnessed a huge surge in tourist arrivals in the past two weeks, registering a subsequent rise in sales, bookings and business activity.

According to Cox's Bazar Chamber of Commerce and Industry and relevant stakeholders, the tourist count in the beach town has been estimated at 16 lakh during the past 15 days until Friday, and the turnover of businesses was approximately Tk1,600 crore in total, thanks to the year-end rush of visitors to the country's tourism capital.

Abul Kashem Sikdar, president of Cox's Bazar Hotel-Guest House Owners' Association, told The Business Standard that in the past 15 days until Friday, approximately 1.6 lakh tourists came to Cox's Bazar.

The estimates were made considering the capacity of residential hotels, motels and guest houses in the town, he said.

Sikdar said tourist arrivals in Cox's Bazar were on the rise since 13 December, and it continued for 15 consecutive days till Friday. However, the arrivals started to decrease slightly from Saturday.

Sales, booking estimated at Tk210cr at hotels, motels

At present, there are 550 residential business establishments in Cox's Bazar town, with an average capacity to host 1,20,000 tourists in total per day. In the 15 days till Saturday, per day tourist count at these establishments was one lakh on average. As such, 16 lakh tourists visited Cox's Bazar in the past two weeks.

These 16 lakh tourists stayed in hotels, motels and other residential establishments, generating a business turnover of Tk210 crore, said Kashem Sikdar.

In terms of services, hotels in Cox's Bazar can be categorised into four groups, according to him.

During the 15 days, 100 luxury and star-rated establishments contributed to a daily business turnover of around Tk10 lakh each, culminating in a total of Tk10 crore, while the combined business activity at 200 medium-quality establishments was worth Tk1 lakh each day, generating Tk2 crore in total. 

Besides, the turnover in 200 low-capacity establishments was Tk50,000 per day, culminating in Tk1 crore during the 15 days, while 50 cottages and other guest houses saw a turnover of Tk20,000 each per day, generating Tk1 crore in total.

As such, the residential establishments witnessed a turnover of around Tk210 crore in 15 days, said Kashem Sikdar.

Tk75cr worth of business activity at restaurants

Mohammad Ali, Cox's Bazar district unit president of the Bangladesh Restaurant Owners' Association, told TBS that currently there are at least 500 restaurants in Cox's Bazar, of which 120 are members of the association.

He said in the last 15 days, these 120 restaurants have generated approximately Tk30 crore.

According to him, and taking into account the business activity of their members, 500 restaurants across all tourist spots of Cox's Bazar saw business activity amounting to a cumulative Tk75 crore in the 15 days.

However, Cox's Bazar Chamber of Commerce and Industry President Abu Morshed Chowdhury Khoka said the number of tourist arrivals in Cox's Bazar and the count of tourism businesses are all based on estimates. "No exact figures are available."

He said in the beach town, 500 hotels and motels, 500 restaurants, various shops, including the Burmese Market, long-haul transport, St. Martin's Island-bound vessels, sea fish, snail and oyster shops and various types of transport, including easy bikes, are involved in tourism.

He said if the tourist count stood at 16 lakh in the 15 days, and if they had spent a minimum of Tk10,000 each, then the total turnover reached over Tk1,600 crore during the period.

Kashem Sikdar said though tourist arrivals have declined since Saturday, the rush is expected to continue till the first week of January.

He said 30-40% of the hotel rooms have already been booked for various periods till January.

St. Martin's among top attractions

According to the Sea Cruise Operator Owners' Association of Bangladesh, an organisation of the owners of St Martin's Island-bound vessels, an additional pressure of visitors persists on the island.

More than 30,000 tourists have visited the island in the last 15 days, said the association's General Secretary Hossain Islam Bahadur, mentioning that in December up to 2,000 visitors are allowed on the island as per a government decision.

"Many tourists have come to Cox's Bazar only to visit St Martin's," he noted.

People related to the local tourism industry said apart from Cox's Bazar beach and St. Martin's Island, tourists travel to various spots in the district, including Daryanagar, Himchhari, Inani, Patuartek, Dulahajara Safari Park, Ramu Buddha Temple, Burmese Market, Sonadia and Adinath Hill.

Enhanced security, mobile court drives ongoing 

Jashim Uddin, Additional Superintendent of Cox's Bazar District Traffic Police, told TBS that due to the surge in tourist arrivals in Cox's Bazar, traffic has also increased. 

The number of traffic police has been enhanced to prevent jams, and at the same time district police patrols have also been increased for the security of travellers.

Md Asaduzzaman, Additional Superintendent of Cox's Bazar Tourist Police, said the force has been providing round-the-clock security for tourists. Alongside the heightened presence of uniformed personnel, vigilance by plainclothes personnel has also been increased. "Complaint boxes have been installed in various spots to receive complaints from tourists, if any, and necessary measures are being taken."

Mohammad Salahuddin, Cox's Bazar Deputy Commissioner of Cox's Bazar, told TBS that mobile court operations are going on under the supervision of executive magistrates to prevent any possible harassment of tourists. "Meanwhile, some residential establishments have been fined and warned for charging extra amounts from customers."

The district administration and law enforcement agencies are active to ensure the overall security of tourists visiting Cox's Bazar, added the DC. ***