Bangladesh's only coral-rich island, Saint Martin's, has been losing its rich biodiversity mainly due to a huge influx of tourists. During the peak tourism season that starts every year in October, an average of over 8,000 tourists stay overnight in the eight-square kilometre island daily along with its 10,000 permanent residents.
The government has not yet been able to implement its plan to keep the tourist number within 958 each day. It has also failed to restrict the tourists from visiting Chhera Dwip. The government ban on travelling to the Chhera Dwip part of the island was announced in October 2020. But the tourists have persistently been visiting the southernmost point of the country anyway.
The island gets noisy due to the tourists' presence. This frightens marine animals, especially the sea turtles. They are now leaving the island without laying eggs. It is not only about the turtles. All other marine lives are equally disturbed; red crabs have already vanished from the island, and the coral population is dwindling. More tourists in this island means more pollution. Plastic bottles, bags and a host of other things can be found on the sea beach.
According to experts, if we can allow only 1,200 tourists each day and ban tourists' overnight stay, it can save Saint Martin's Island. And the authorities concerned should restrict the number of tourists to the island before the next tourism season starts. Otherwise, we may lose one of our precious treasures.
Sifat Rabbani,
Student of Department of Political Science,
Jagannath University, Dhaka,
sifatrabbani787@gmail.com
Limiting tourists' number at Saint Martin's island
FE Team | Published: September 17, 2022 19:07:42
Limiting tourists' number at Saint Martin's island
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