Restrictions on St Martin’s necessary to preserve island, says adviser

AF Hassan Ariff, adviser of the Ministry of Land and the Ministry of Civil Aviation and Tourism, has mentioned the authorities’s restrictions on tourism on St. Martin’s Island are very vital for the preservation of the coral island, emphasising that the island’s survival must take priority over tourism and enterprise considerations.

“It be not only correct about tourism. The priority will win to be the survival of the island, then enterprise and then every thing else. We must accept this reality”, he mentioned.

The adviser became once responding to questions from the media at the Asian Global Change Stunning at the China Friendship Conference Centre in Agargaon on Friday (22 November).

Many standard vacationer locations worldwide set a watch on the selection of associates at a time, and as Bangladesh’s ideal coral island, St. Martin requires same measures to prevent extra environmental injury, he added.

Earlier on 22 October, the authorities-imposed restrictions on the selection of tourists visiting St. Martin to offer protection to its atmosphere and biodiversity. From November to February, tourists could well be allowed to check with with throughout the day, but in a single day stays could well be prohibited in November. In December and January, the on a regular basis vacationer restrict could well be capped at 2,000, and in February, no tourists could well be allowed in throughout the island’s neat-up efforts.

Nonetheless, the decision has dawdle into opposition from the Tour Operators Association of Bangladesh (TOAB). Its President, Md Rafiuzzaman, criticised the limitations, arguing that limiting in a single day stays and vacationer win admission to would enormously influence the tourism trade, particularly harming little corporations and native entrepreneurs.

“It be the responsibility of service companies and tour operators to search out out what number of tourists the island can safely accommodate,” he mentioned.

Ariff also addressed considerations about safety in the country, bringing up that home and global tourists could likely well roam without ache.

“Many individuals win asked me about security considerations in Bangladesh. I invent not win I must answer to that,” he added, relating to the alive to public participation at the trade pleasing as a testament to the country’s safety.

In the period in-between, the Asian Global Change Stunning, being held outdoor the fundamental constructing of the China Friendship Conference Centre, continues to entice associates. Running until 23 November, the 17-day tournament showcases hundreds of products, together with dresses, furniture, jewellery and kitchenware, with a valuable presence of imported items from India and Pakistan, reports our correspondent.

Despite the high turnout on Friday, some participants expressed considerations about low sales and high stall rents. “Now we win had correct sales, but the rent for an 8×8-foot stall is TK80,000, leaving us with slim profit margins,” mentioned Sourav Hossain, a supplier selling Indian three-piece outfits.

While the pleasing attracted immense crowds, some associates were disappointed by the inability of in the neighborhood produced objects. “I hoped to search out products made by little local entrepreneurs, but diverse the objects here appear to near again from Recent Market and are honest correct arranged for the pleasing,” mentioned Anwarul Islam, a visitor.