Cox's Bazar tourists claim to have deprived of promised discounts

COX'S BAZAR, Oct 03: Lured by hefty discounts, a large number of tourists from across the country arrived in the beach town. But many of them alleged that they did not get the special offer.
On the occasion of the World Tourism Day held recently, the owners of the hotels and motels in Cox's Bazar had offered special discounts to visitors. A beach carnival was also arranged on the Laboni Point of the sea beach.
The district administration also announced 30-70 per cent concession to the tourists for staying in residential hotels and 50 per cent for dining in restaurants.
After knowing about the offers, Cox's Bazar got overcrowded with tourists. But the tourists could not enjoy any such offers. The owners of the hotels and restaurants did not follow the announcement of the district administration.
Mustafa Ali and Maryam, a couple who came to Cox's Bazar from Dhaka's Hatirjheel area with seven members of their family, thought that they could enjoy their trip at a low cost due to the discount offers. But there was something else waiting for them.
Mustafa said, "I visited at least 10 hotels in Cox's Bazar but I did not get any discount offer. Rather, good hotels asked more than the usual price."
Abul Kalam, another tourist from Mymensingh, said, "I have reached Cox's Bazar and went to various hotels. But the discount that was supposed to be given on the occasion of the tourist fair does not exist in reality."
A number of tourists who came to Cox's Bazar from different districts including Sylhet, Chattogram and Dhaka made similar complaints.
However, the hotel and restaurant businessmen claimed that the district administration had announced the discount without talking to them.
Cox's Bazar Hotel-Motel Owners Association President Abul Kashem Sikder said, "We have provided financial support for the fair. During the weeklong fair, we offered our non-AC rooms at Tk 1,000 each day for the tourists."
President of Cox's Bazar Restaurant Owners Association, Naimul Haque Chowdhury Tutul, said, "Without consulting us, the district administration announced the discount offer. And the media carried the news. So, the district administration has to take the responsibility."
Cox's Bazar District Administration Additional Magistrate (ADM) Abu Sufian said, "The district administration announced the discount after consulting the hotel and restaurant owners. If they do not admit that now, it is really sad," he added.

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