Kuakata beach sees a few tourists in peak season

Businesses in Kuakata sea beach area face huge losses as the picturesque tourist spot sees only a small number of visitors during the ongoing peak tourism season.

The situation has arisen due to transport problem and security concerns amid the countrywide non-stop blockade and frequent hartals called by BNP-led 20-party alliance since January 6.

Local businessmen and traders make good arrangements especially during November to April when a good number of tourists from home and abroad come to the area. But the picture is frustrating this season.

Visiting the area on Friday afternoon, this correspondent saw rows of empty benches on the beach amid very poor presence of tourists.

"The continued blockade has badly affected the arrival of tourists, causing huge losses to me. Now I have to borrow from others to pay staff salaries," said Zoinal Abedin, owner of Hotel Rajdhani.

"I am struggling to manage three square meals for my family of five as the number of tourists here has drastically fallen since the blockade started around one and a half months ago," said Md Rezaul Karim, a tea seller in the area.

Every year during this season, many picnic parties from different areas and students on study tour from different educational institutions visit Kuakata in large numbers but this time there is hardly such programmes as a panicky environment prevails everywhere, said Shamim Reza, manager of hotel Beach Haven.

Md Azaharul Islam, manager for Parjaton Motel owned by Bangladesh Parjatan Corporation, said only four tourists are now staying in the motel having the capacity to accommodate 300 guests.

"In every tourism season from November to April, our profit usually ranges from Tk 4,000 to 5,000 daily but this year we have to count losses due to the blockade and hartals," said Mathan Rakhine, a businessman of Rakhaine Market in Kuakata beach.

"Many people cancelled their advance bookings in the different hotels and motels due to countrywide blockade and hartal programme. All our special arrangements and decorations to attract tourists have gone in vain," said Md Motaleb Sharif, secretary for Kuakata Hotel Motel Owners' Association.