Tourists flock to Cox's Bazar on New Year's Eve

COX'S BAZAR, Dec 31: Hundreds of thousands of tourists are thronging Cox's Bazar sea beach to welcome the New Year-2024 through merrymaking in different ways.

Many visit the world's longest sea beach this time to share joys with their loved ones and have funs marking the New Year.

Every year, people from different parts of the country flock here to bid farewell to the old year and welcome the English New Year.

However, this year there was arranged no concert or musical programme on the beach on the occasion of the 31st night, going by the directive of the administration.

Of course, star-quality hotels organised various programmes for tourists under their own management.

Tourism operators here are now busy attending to the large number of tourists visiting Cox's Bazar beach as well as Saint Martin's Island, the country's only coral-rich island.

Centring the 12th parliamentary elections billed for January 7, 2024, the administration has announced closure of tourist ships on the Teknaf-Saint Martin route for January 6-8.

On Sunday (December 31) morning, visiting Labani, Sugandha and Kalatali points of Cox's Bazar, it was seen that thousands of tourists were bathing and having fun on the beach.

Some tourists of different ages were floating in tire tubes, some cruising on the sea with watercraft (jet skis), some riding horses and beach bikes and some were strolling on the beach.

Many also take pleasure trip to Daryanagar, Himachari, Inani, Patuartek and Teknaf beaches along the Marine Drive Road.

There are many tourist centers including St. Martin Islan, Maheshkhali Adinath Temple, Ramu Buddhapalli and Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Safari Park in Chakaria, said tourism officials.

Shafiq Ahmed, a tourist who came to bathe on the beach, said, "I came from Dhaka to Cox's Bazar on December 29. Today (December 31) night I will leave. It feels good to come to Cox's Bazar. I wish I could stay here a little longer. But the prevailing political instability will not allow--."

Another tourist named Maryam Chowdhury said, "It is the end of the year; so it is very exciting to visit Cox's Bazar. But it would have been better if there had been a 31st night celebration arrangement."

Mukim Khan, general secretary of Kalatali Marine Drive Hotel Resort Owners Association, said that tourists' pressure is less in the New Year this time due to political unrest.

There are more than 500 hotels, motels, cottages and resorts on the Kalatali and Marine Drive roads in the hotel-motel zone of Cox's Bazar town.

Most of the hotels could not see even 30 per cent turnout of tourists.

However, if the situation comes back to normal after the election, tourist flow may increase.

Meanwhile, tourist police, beach attendants and life guard members have been on alert to ensure safety of tourists.

Additional DIG of Tourist Police Cox's Bazar region Apple Mahmud said patrolling and surveillance have been augmented for the overall safety of tourists.

The administration is working in the field to prevent harassment of tourists.

Additional District Magistrate of Cox's Bazar Yamin Hossain said on January 6,7and 8 operation of all tourist ships will remain closed on the Teknaf-Saint Martin route due to the 12 national election.

All hotels, motels and guest houses on the island of St. Martin will also remain shut.

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