Tourists pour into Cox’s Bazar in Eid vacation. Photo: BSS

COX’S BAZAR, April 1, 2025 (BSS) – Thousands of tourists have flocked to the world’s longest natural sea beach in Cox’s Bazar amid the weeklong holidays on the occasion of Eid-ul-Fitr, the biggest religious festival of Muslims.

A huge influx of holidaymakers into Cox’s Bazar has brought smiles to the faces of people engaged in the tourism sector here since the country's tourism hub experienced a slump in tourists during the holy month of Ramadan.

On the second day of the Eid, the sea beaches here witnessed huge crowd of tourists, who came here to enjoy the beauty of the sea.

While visiting different sea beaches, people were seen swimming in the sea to cool off from the intense heat at Seagull, Laboni, Kalatali and Sugandha beaches.

Apart from bathing in the sea, tourists were riding horses or beach bikes on the sand and roaming from one end of the beach to the other. They are taking pictures on their mobile phones. Many of them were taking videos and sharing on social media like Facebook and YouTube.

According to different sources, at least 60,000 tourists thronged the beaches while another 40-45,000 locals joined them, taking the total number of people to about 1 lakh, who bathed in the salty sea water today.

The holidaymakers were seen rushing to different amusement spots, including to Cox's Bazar-Teknaf Marine Drive, Dariyanagar, Himchhari waterfall, Inani, Patwartek and Teknaf beaches, Mathinkup, Buddhist Palli in Ramu, Dulahazara Safari Park in Chakaria and Adinath Temple in Maheshkhali.

Hotel and motel owners in the district are expecting at least one lakh more tourists to visit the coastal district tomorrow (on Wednesday), the third day of the Eid.

Abdul Alim (51), a businessman from Dhaka's Mohammadpur area, came here with his wife and two children to enjoy the beauty of the world’s longest natural sea beach.

After swimming in the sea, he along with his wife and children were passing pleasure time sitting on a chair under a parasol.

“It's a different kind of feelings to soak the body in the salty water of the sea in the boiling heat. It's a great pleasure to float in the water and dance with the waves,” said Abdul Alim, who arrived here in the morning by an aircraft.

According to his tour plan, he will visits different amusement spots including the Cox's Bazar-Teknaf Marine Drive tomorrow and leave for Dhaka by air on Thursday afternoon.

According to the owners of hotels and motels in the district, at least one million tourists visited the Cox’s Bazar during the Eid-ul-Fitr holidays in last year.

This year, many people have booked rooms online or over phone from different parts of the country. There are more than 500 hotels, motels, guesthouses and resorts in Cox's Bazar city and Marine Drive that can accommodate about 170,000 tourists. About 80 percent of the rooms have already been booked from April 1 to 5.

Hotel-Motel, Guesthouse and Resort Owners Association President Abul Kashem Sikder said, “The tourists from outside Cox’s Bazar started heading for Cox's Bazar from today. It is best for tourists to book hotels online so that they do not face any problems while traveling”.

Cox's Bazar Restaurant Owners Association General Secretary Javed Iqbal said more than 500 restaurants that were closed during the month of Ramadan had opened before this noon.

Thousands of tourists had breakfast and lunch at the restaurants today, he said, adding that they are monitoring whether tourists coming outside of the district are charged extra for food.

A price list is kept on the dining table, Javed said, suggesting tourists to order food after looking at the price list.

Additional DIG of Cox’s Bazar Tourist Police Apel Mahmud said, keeping in mind the increased pressure of tourists, round-the-clock patrols by tourist police have been increased along beaches and tourist spots.

Along with the tourist police, other law enforcement agencies are also on duty, he said.

Cox’s Bazar Deputy Commissioner (DC) Mohammad Salahuddin said the district administration is maintaining coordination with everyone related to tourism so that tourists get better services.

To stop charging extra money in hotels, motels and restaurants, prevent harassment in other areas and ensure safe travel, he said, several mobile courts led by executive magistrates are working in the field. “Action will be taken immediately if any complaint is received,” the DC said.