Our correspondent
COX'S BAZAR, Jan 19:Tourists in their multitudes are flocking to the Cox's Bazar beach town to take the authentic pleasure of travelling during this late winter.
Sources said at least 350,000 pleasure seekers have converged on the world's longest beach town Cox's Bazar in the last three days.
With the crowding of tourists in their multitudes from all corners of the country, as if Cox's Bazar has assumed the form of a 'festival hub'.
On Friday (January 17) afternoon, merrymakers were seen strolling in enormous crowds along the Sugandha, Laboni and Kalatali beach points.
Many were plunging their bodies in salty water of the sea and leaping for joy.
In addition, along with sea bathing, people also enjoyed floating in tubes. And sometimes, travellers rushed to see blue waters of the sea by riding a jet ski.
Sitting on the sand, many felt the pleasure from nature and enjoyed the cool gentle breeze.
Some spent their time alone sitting on horses or rocking chairs. In this way, joy and festivities prevailed everywhere.
Meanwhile, due to the arrival of additional number of tourists on weekend (Friday and Saturday), almost all the roads in the town were congested with traffic.
Locals and tourists alike had to endure hardship to return to their destinations.
Tourist Milan Talukder said, "It's weekend, so there are many people on the beach. There's no scope to walk smoothly on the beach. But it's a lot of fun and good to see so many tourists coming together."
Mir Rezaul from Dhaka said, "In my busy life, I don't always get to visit Cox's Bazar. That's why I come to Cox's Bazar for two days during the weekend. I come to Cox's Bazar mainly for peace of mind."
Tourist Sharmin Chowdhury said, "It's winter; so I come to Cox's Bazar. It's nice to ride horses, beach bikes and jet ski here and take pictures."
Tourism industry insiders said that more than 500 hotels, motels and resorts in the city have been booked until January 20.
They added that estimated 350,000 tourists came to Cox's Bazar for holidaymaking on Thursday, Friday and Saturday.
Small, medium and large-scale businesses are benefiting from this influx of tourists.
Mukim Khan, general secretary of the Kalatali Marine Drive Hotel Resort Owners Association, said, "Cox's Bazar sea beach is bustling with tourists. Millions of people come every day from different parts of the country. Most of the hotels have room bookings. We are trying to give discounts on hotel room rent for the convenience of tourists."
Meanwhile, the intensity of the waves in the sea has suddenly increased during this winter season. Therefore, the life guard staffs stay vigilant to ensure safety of tourists.
Mohammad Yusuf, a senior life guard staff of the Sea Safe Life Guard Organisation, said, there are a lot of tourists. There is only a human-sea on the three-kilometre beach from the beach to Kalatali.
