Desk Report: Hotels, motels and guesthouses in and around the popular tourist zones of the country have geared up for a brisk business during Eid festivities.
Holiday destinations like Cox’s Bazar, Kuakata, Sylhet, Bandarban, Rangamati and St Martin’s Island are expecting a big turnout of tourists during the holidays.
Sheikh Imrul Siddique, an official at Seagull Hotel, said people generally love visiting Cox’s Bazar after Eid and that hoteliers are expecting a brisk business during the holidays. Badal Barua, the manager of Hotel Diamond Palace, said they expect to get 50-70 percent occupancy during Eid vacation. An official of Sayeman Beach Resort, however, said that 80 percent of their rooms are already booked by the holidaymakers after Eid while they will have 100 percent occupancy during the holidays.
Tour operators are also expecting windfall profits by offering a wide range of tour packages for Eid holidaymakers.
Mizanur Rahman Milky, vice-president of the Tour Operators’ Association of Cox’s Bazar, told the daily sun hotel and resort operators have already received a significant number of bookings ahead of Eid holidays.
“We expect an increased number of tourists during Eid vacation as 50 percent of all hotel rooms have already been booked by them,” he maintained.
He informed that there are about 14,000 rooms, including 1,790 rooms in 11 hotels and 8,750 in 175 guesthouses in Cox’s Bazar.
Milky said around 1.5 lakh tourists visit the beach city a day during Eid holidays and hoteliers are hopeful of a high turnout of tourists due to weeklong holidays.
“Airlines operating on Dhaka-Cox’s Bazar route have already sold almost all tickets,” he informed.
However, tour operators and hoteliers complained about poor road conditions that have seriously affected the country’s vibrant tourism industry.
Country’s tourism industry is all set for a rebound during the Eid holidays as hundreds of holidaymakers are likely to throng the tourist spots across the country during Eid season.
Apart from domestic tourism, a large number of travel lovers are likely to go abroad to spend quality time with their kith and kin.
According to the Tour Operators Association of Bangladesh and several airlines, over two lakh Bangladeshis are likely to spend Eid holidays abroad.
Faridul Haque, managing director of Tour Planners Limited, said Bangladeshis mainly travel to India, Malaysia, Thailand, Singapore, China, Nepal, Sri Lanka, Bhutan and some European countries during their Eid vacation.
He said, “As we have the longest land boundary with India, a larger number of Bangladeshis visit India every year.” “Indian government’s special arrangement for making its visa system flexible for Bangladeshis and lower travel expense are also driving more tourists from Bangladesh to India,” he explained.
Private airlines and guest houses have also come up with attractive offers and discount at various destinations to attract more travellers during Eid holidays.
Besides, luxury hotels of the country have also made special offers for guests during Eid holidays.
They expect special offers for guests will attract guests and help them make some business during the biggest religious festival of Muslims.
Luxury hotels like Le Meridien, The Westin Dhaka, Hotel Radission and Hotel Amari have already announced different lucrative packages, including discounts, on room fares for the holidaymakers.