Sundarbans Tourism Businesses Look For Reopening

Hit hard by coronavirus outbreaks, tourism-based companies in the Sundarbans are patiently awaiting the re-opening of tourism in the world's largest mangrove forest to live as they have sustained major losses over the past five months.

The government banned tourism gatherings in Sundarbans, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, on 19 March to avoid coronavirus spread, reports UNB.

Since then, tourism-based company houses and thousands of workers in the sector have been almost idle.

Thousands of citizens active in the Sundarbans tourism sector have gone through a difficult phase of losing their sources of income.

Tourist season in the Sundarbans normally begins right after the monsoon as it is high time to experience the scenic beauty of the mangrove forest, but business people see little hope ahead as the government has not yet authorized tourism in the region, sources said.

Talking to reporters, tour operators, and tourism-related businessmen, some tourist spots have already been reopened, but no decision has yet been made to encourage visitors to visit the Sundarbans, which has created dissatisfaction among them.

There are nine tourist spots in the Sundarbans and over 45.000 tourists visit the places between November and March, which is the prime season for Sundarbans tourism.

Belayet Hossain, Divisional Forest Officer (DFO) of Sundarbans East District, said that, in an attempt to halt the coronavirus pandemic, the government placed restrictions on the entry of visitors and the passage of river vessels to Sundarbans on 19 March.

"There is still no decision to reopen tourism spots in the Sundarbans, and it depends on the ministry concerned," he added.

On August 17, the local administration in Cox's Bazar allowed sea beaches, hotels, motels and business establishments in the municipality area to be reopened on a limited scale after a long time of closure, but no decision has yet been made to encourage visitors to visit the Sundarbans.

In addition, the authorities allowed tourists to access the Sundarbans in Dakkhin Rai Dera, India, from 15 June.

Moinul Islam Jamaddar, president of the Tour Operators Group, said that all tourism places, including Kuakata, have been re-opened and there would be no problems if the government allows tourists in the Sundarbans to make revenue.

Several hundred workers and staff of over 50 ships owned by 70 tour companies have remained jobless for the last five months, he said.

"Three to four months are considered as the tourist season in the Sundarbans, and tourism-related businesses have to pay the salaries of their workers for the entire year. If the government does not take any measures to remove the ban, it will be robbed of big revenues when the tourist industry would crash, "Moinul Islam said.

The DFO said that the amount of Tk 1,04,97,658 was received as revenue in the fiscal year 2019-2020, as some 1,07,384 tourists visited Sundarbans last year.