Travel ban on St Martin’s from Feb, businesses seek extension

All tourist vessels to Saint Martin's Island will cease operations from January 31, with travel to the country's only coral island prohibited from February to October, as per government directives.

The decision has sparked concerns among tourism-dependent local businesses, who are urging authorities to extend the tourism period until the end of February to mitigate financial losses.

Tourism businesses on the island, which typically operate from October to March, now face severe financial strain due to the shortened season.

The Ministry of Environment, Forest, and Climate Change has restricted tourist visits to just three months—November, December, and January—this year.

Nilufa Yasmin Chowdhury, convener of the committee regulating tourism to Saint Martin's Island and upazila nirbahi officer (UNO) of Cox's Bazar Sadar, confirmed the government's decision.

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"As per directives, tourists can visit Saint Martin's until January 31. After that, all tourist vessels will stop operating," she said, adding that no further instructions had been received regarding an extension.

"This is an unprecedented crisis for the island. If tourists are barred, thousands of people who rely on tourism will suffer," said MA Rahim Jihadi, president of the Hotel, Motel, and Resort Owners' Association of the Island.

Hossain Islam Bahadur, general secretary of the Sea Cruise Operators Owners Association of Bangladesh, urged the government to reconsider.

"At least keep Saint Martin's open to tourists for February. This will help mitigate the financial losses faced by the island's residents and businesses," he said.

Taiub Ullah, owner of St Martin Mermaid Resort, said, "It is impossible for the people of Saint Martin's to survive the remaining ten months of the year with just two months of income. We urge the government to keep the island open until February."

He added that tourism would naturally decline in March due to Ramadan.

Tourist travel to Saint Martin's resumed on December 1 from the BIWTA jetty at Nuniachhara in Cox's Bazar, with six vessels currently operating on the Cox's Bazar-Saint Martin's route.

In previous years, tourist vessels operated from October to March, with services suspended during the monsoon due to rough seas.

However, new restrictions have also imposed limits on overnight stays—banning them in November and capping them at 2,000 tourists per night in December and January.

Starting February, all tourist visits will be banned.

Previously, tourist ships also operated from Teknaf, but sediment accumulation in the Naf River and border tensions with Myanmar have halted vessel operations from that route.

With the ban set to take effect from February, business owners and residents are anxiously awaiting a government response to their appeals for an extension.