Print: 28 Oct 2025
File Photo of Cox's Bazar
Hundreds of thousands of people flocked to various popular tourism destinations across the country as the six-day Eid-ul-Fitr vacation, followed by Pahela Baishakh, the first day of the Bangla new year, provided them with the opportunity to immerse themselves in the beauty of nature, significantly boosting the tourism sector.
According to our correspondents, popular tourist spots, including Cox’s Bazar, Kuakata, Sundarbans, Rangamati, and Sylhet, were teeming with a vast number of tourists throughout the post-Eid holidays.
Cox’s Bazar has always been a magnet for holidaymakers in the country. At least 5,00,000 vacationers visited the world’s longest unbroken sea beach since the afternoon of Eid day, surpassing the expectations of hoteliers and restaurateurs. Numerous tourists were spotted exploring Sugandha, Kolatoli, Laboni, and Himchori points along the beach.
With over 550 hotels, motels, guest houses, and cottages, the beach city can accommodate around 1,28,000 tourists at a time. However, the sudden influx of holidaymakers on Friday and Saturday overwhelmed them, leading to accommodation shortages for many families.
Abul Kashem Sikder, president of Cox’s Bazar Hotel-Motel, Guest House Owners’ Association, said that around 90% of the rooms were pre-booked until Sunday, leaving only a small percentage available for tourists arriving on Friday and Saturday.
He added that approximately two lakh tourists arrived on Friday, with another two lakh or more following the next day.
“Many tourists returned or went to Teknaf, Chokoria, Moheshkhali or Ramu for accommodation. We have been trying our best to accommodate the tourists,” he said further.
Fahmida Ahmed Kanta, a holidaymaker from the capital’s Segunbagicha, alleged that some hoteliers and restaurant owners were taking advantage of the situation by overcharging. However, Cox’s Bazar Restaurant Owners Association General Secretary Rashedul Islam Dalim refuted these claims, stating that they had reopened over 700 restaurants after Ramadan renovations to ensure tourists’ convenience.
The Sundarbans also attracted a significant number of tourists during the long Eid-ul-Fitr vacation. Thousands of visitors flocked to various points of the world’s largest mangrove forest to experience its diverse flora and fauna, including the majestic Royal Bengal Tiger and rare species such as Irrawaddy and Ganges dolphins.
Sabbir Ahmed, a visitor from Chattogram, expressed his long-held desire to visit the renowned forest, relishing the opportunity afforded by the Eid and Bangla New Year holidays.
“I enjoyed the abundant wildlife here. I fed leaves to deer with my own hands,” he told the Daily Sun.
He said he did not face any hassles except high rent charged by trawlers operated through the canals of the Sundarbans.
Another tourist spot, Kuakata, known for being the only sea beach in the world where one can witness both the sunrise and sunset, saw all its hotels and motels fully booked at least a week before Eid-ul-Fitr. Popular areas such as Jhauban, Buddhist temples of the Rakhain community, and the beach itself were bustling with thousands of visitors.
Groups of individuals who directly or indirectly benefit from the influx of tourists have seen a significant rise in their earnings.
Kabir Hossain, a tour guide and motorcycle driver at the beach, noted that the surge in Eid tourists’ numbers has led to a multiplication of their income.
In Sylhet, sought-after tourist destinations like Madhabpur Tea Garden, Lawachara National Park, Hum Waterfall, Memorial of Birshreshtho Hamidur Rahman, Garo Tila, Khashiapunji and tea gardens also experienced a surge in tourist numbers during the vacation.
The dam surrounding Nikli Haor in the Kishoreganj district emerged as a popular hangout spot for Dhaka residents during the holidays, attracting many with its serene ambience and picturesque scenery. Additionally, the alpana artistry adorning the fourteen-kilometre-long road around the haor for Pahela Baishakh festivities set a world record and drew even more tourists to the area during this year’s Eid vacation.
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Long Eid holidays boost domestic tourism
File Photo of Cox's Bazar
Hundreds of thousands of people flocked to various popular tourism destinations across the country as the six-day Eid-ul-Fitr vacation, followed by Pahela Baishakh, the first day of the Bangla new year, provided them with the opportunity to immerse themselves in the beauty of nature, significantly boosting the tourism sector.
According to our correspondents, popular tourist spots, including Cox’s Bazar, Kuakata, Sundarbans, Rangamati, and Sylhet, were teeming with a vast number of tourists throughout the post-Eid holidays.
Cox’s Bazar has always been a magnet for holidaymakers in the country. At least 5,00,000 vacationers visited the world’s longest unbroken sea beach since the afternoon of Eid day, surpassing the expectations of hoteliers and restaurateurs. Numerous tourists were spotted exploring Sugandha, Kolatoli, Laboni, and Himchori points along the beach.
With over 550 hotels, motels, guest houses, and cottages, the beach city can accommodate around 1,28,000 tourists at a time. However, the sudden influx of holidaymakers on Friday and Saturday overwhelmed them, leading to accommodation shortages for many families.
Abul Kashem Sikder, president of Cox’s Bazar Hotel-Motel, Guest House Owners’ Association, said that around 90% of the rooms were pre-booked until Sunday, leaving only a small percentage available for tourists arriving on Friday and Saturday.
He added that approximately two lakh tourists arrived on Friday, with another two lakh or more following the next day.
“Many tourists returned or went to Teknaf, Chokoria, Moheshkhali or Ramu for accommodation. We have been trying our best to accommodate the tourists,” he said further.
Fahmida Ahmed Kanta, a holidaymaker from the capital’s Segunbagicha, alleged that some hoteliers and restaurant owners were taking advantage of the situation by overcharging. However, Cox’s Bazar Restaurant Owners Association General Secretary Rashedul Islam Dalim refuted these claims, stating that they had reopened over 700 restaurants after Ramadan renovations to ensure tourists’ convenience.
The Sundarbans also attracted a significant number of tourists during the long Eid-ul-Fitr vacation. Thousands of visitors flocked to various points of the world’s largest mangrove forest to experience its diverse flora and fauna, including the majestic Royal Bengal Tiger and rare species such as Irrawaddy and Ganges dolphins.
Sabbir Ahmed, a visitor from Chattogram, expressed his long-held desire to visit the renowned forest, relishing the opportunity afforded by the Eid and Bangla New Year holidays.
“I enjoyed the abundant wildlife here. I fed leaves to deer with my own hands,” he told the Daily Sun.
He said he did not face any hassles except high rent charged by trawlers operated through the canals of the Sundarbans.
Another tourist spot, Kuakata, known for being the only sea beach in the world where one can witness both the sunrise and sunset, saw all its hotels and motels fully booked at least a week before Eid-ul-Fitr. Popular areas such as Jhauban, Buddhist temples of the Rakhain community, and the beach itself were bustling with thousands of visitors.
Groups of individuals who directly or indirectly benefit from the influx of tourists have seen a significant rise in their earnings.
Kabir Hossain, a tour guide and motorcycle driver at the beach, noted that the surge in Eid tourists’ numbers has led to a multiplication of their income.
In Sylhet, sought-after tourist destinations like Madhabpur Tea Garden, Lawachara National Park, Hum Waterfall, Memorial of Birshreshtho Hamidur Rahman, Garo Tila, Khashiapunji and tea gardens also experienced a surge in tourist numbers during the vacation.
The dam surrounding Nikli Haor in the Kishoreganj district emerged as a popular hangout spot for Dhaka residents during the holidays, attracting many with its serene ambience and picturesque scenery. Additionally, the alpana artistry adorning the fourteen-kilometre-long road around the haor for Pahela Baishakh festivities set a world record and drew even more tourists to the area during this year’s Eid vacation.