Master plan for Cox\\\'s Bazar needed to lure tourists : Experts

Tourism experts, investors and tour operators have called for formulating a master plan for Cox's Bazar as an attractive tourist zone.

The plan should include development of an exclusive tourist zone (ETZ), use of virgin beach areas and introduction of beach activities for international tourists to tap the huge potentials of the world's natural wonder, they said.

They also regretted that due to lack of planning, the 120 km long unbroken sandy beach, the longest in the world, cannot even attract 20,000 expatriates living in the country. Almost all of them spend their holidays in countries like Thailand and Singapore.

Despite being the landlocked countries, regional countries like Nepal and Bhutan have been able to attract tourists by developing tourist-friendly infrastructure, facilities and services.  

Introduction of various beach facilities, tourism-friendly policy and development plan can make Cox's Bazar one of the major tourist attractions for the international tourists, experts said.

Saimon Beach Resort executive director Mahbubur Rahman is still hopeful of turning Cox's Bazar into a major beach destination for international tourists although the unplanned development and absence of a master plan have damaged the potential of the same to some extent. He thought the limited water sports facilities that have been introduced in Cox's Bazar should be regulated for  safety of the visitors and surfing can be introduced for the learners. Also a number of lifeguards should be increased  

Hotel Saimon is one of the oldest hotels in Cox's Bazar, which, Mr Rahman said, will be upgraded to international standard to lure tourists mainly from landlocked countries including China.

"I think Cox's Bazar will be the best option for many of international tourists once the airport is developed, all the municipality services are provided to the investors and every hotel has ETP," said Mr Rahman, also executive director of The Peninsula Chittagong, a four-star hotel.

According to him, about 20,000 expatriates live in Dhaka but spend their holidays in Thailand, Malaysia or Singapore. This group and the tourists from landlocked countries will be interested to spend their holidays in Cox's Bazar if facilities could be provided and proper environment guaranteed, he added.

Although Cox's Bazar is the tourist capital for domestic tourists, international tourists are still reluctant to visit the spot due to various reasons including absence of infrastructure and amusement facilities. Lack of planning and investment by the government to make Cox's Bazar a tourist attraction by cashing on scenic beauty, preservation of archaeological and heritage sites around the beach town and failure to highlight local culture and cuisine to the international community are considered to be the major reasons for failing to make the beach a major tourist attraction over all these years.

Journey Plus chief executive Taufiq Rahman thinks there is hardly any possibility for Cox's Bazar to attract foreign visitors in the coming 10 years. He suggested development of exclusive tourist zone as per characteristics of beach tourism, availability of entertainment and recreational facilities and water sports activities.

Mr Taufiq, an inbound tour operator, referred to  tourists' observations whom his company tried to take to Cox's Bazar, and said tourists find water of Cox's Bazar sea beach not proper for taking bath and the environment as noisy.

He said Cox's Bazar can attract tourists from landlocked countries like Nepal, China, Bhutan or West Bengal of India where there is no beach.

Unofficial data shows tourist flow has increased manifold in the beach town over the past decade reaching about 1.5 million in 2012-13 fiscal year. The number of international tourists cannot be separated because of lack of data in tourism sector.

This correspondent, during her recent visit to Cox's Bazar, found several kilometres of the beach as just a jungle of high-rise hotels disturbing the view of the sea except for the few which are built close to the beach.

The hotels also lack any architectural beauty. Most part of the 120 km beach is still unused while a portion of the beach has become a pain for the visitors due to overcrowding that blocks enjoyment of calmness of the sea. Tourists still fall victim to man-made dangers or natural hazards as proper safety and security system for the beach has not yet been developed.

Tourism ministry sources said, there is a lot of plans and programmes to develop Cox's Bazar but not yet implemented as the ministry neither has authority nor budget nor control over other ministries or on private sector. There is a lack of coordination among various ministries which are the major stakeholders of tourism sector of the country.

Bangladesh Tourism Board (BTB) chief executive officer Akhteruzzaman Khan Kabir told the FE that international tourists would not come with the existing facilities. The water is not good and the hustle and bustle of the beach area with noise pollution and every kind of indiscipline will irritate the foreign tourists, he felt.

Mr Kabir said they are frequently asking the government to acquire land for exclusive tourist zone in Sabrang in Teknaf where investors will invest in developing ETZ with all modern facilities for international tourists.

Tourism and hospitality expert of Sri Lanka Francis De Silva said anybody going for beach tourism should be able to walk to the beach directly from the resort built on the beach. To promote beach tourism, resorts should be built on the beach side. These must be environment-friendly and must not be high rise.

Mr Francis said Cox's Bazar will be attractive for MICE tourists (Meeting, Incentives, Convention and Exhibition). But for that international conference centres with all standard facilities and airports should be developed so that people can fly in and out directly from Cox's Bazar. There should be arrangements for holding conferences of     regional countries without going to Dhaka. Thus one or two-day package tours can be developed for these visitors, Mr Francis suggested.

Another tourism expert Ziaul Haque Howlader said Cox's Bazar is not the right beach for activities like scuba diving, snorting and sunbath. Also sea-based games are limited there coupled with lack of recreational and amusement facilities, cultural display, nightlife activities and souvenir shops.

Mr Zia suggested introduction of cable car from Cox's Bazar to Teknaf, hilltop sea view watch tower, setting up of revolving restaurants and sea facing hotels that can help attract tourists giving them really amazing time.

Experts said only beach cannot be of any attraction to the foreigners as there are other beaches across the globe which are far more organised and well managed.