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Govt to review tourist limits, travel period for Saint Martin’s
Published : Monday, 12 October, 2026 at 6:02 PM
Observer Online Report
The government will review the tourism period, daily visitor limit and departure points for tourist vessels serving Saint Martin’s Island, Environment, Forest and Climate Change Minister Abdul Awal Mintoo has said.
Future decisions will take into account the island’s environmental protection, biodiversity conservation, tourist safety and transport management, the minister said.
He made the remarks while chairing an inter-ministerial meeting on tourist access to Saint Martin’s Island at the conference room of the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change at the Secretariat on Monday (October 12), according to an official press release.
Environment State Minister Sheikh Faridul Islam, Cox’s Bazar-4 MP Shahjahan Chowdhury and Dhaka-14 MP Mir Ahmad Bin Quasem attended the meeting.
Mintoo said tourism activities must be conducted without damaging the island’s natural environment and biodiversity. The island’s carrying capacity, waste management, availability of safe drinking water and the impact of tourism on the marine ecosystem must also be considered, he said.
He added that tourism management arrangements would be reviewed further based on the opinions of the relevant ministries and agencies.
State Minister Sheikh Faridul Islam stressed that tourists should obtain travel passes and tickets containing QR codes through web portals recognised by the Bangladesh Tourism Board and comply with environmental protection guidelines.
He also emphasised preventing visitors from carrying prohibited polythene bags, discouraging single-use plastics and encouraging tourists to bring their own water flasks.
The meeting discussed controlling tourist arrivals and overnight stays during the 2026–2027 tourism season, protecting the island’s environment and biodiversity, and ensuring visitor safety. Existing tourism regulations were also reviewed, with particular attention to the duration of the tourism season, the daily visitor limit and departure points for tourist vessels.
Under a notification issued on October 22, 2025, tourists were allowed to visit the island during the daytime in November but had to return the same day without staying overnight. Overnight stays were permitted in December and January, while the average number of tourists was capped at 2,000 a day. Tourist visits were prohibited throughout February.
These provisions will be reconsidered before the government announces its next decision.
Existing restrictions to protect marine turtles, birds, coral and other wildlife on the island will remain in force. The restrictions prohibit lighting fires or lights at night on the beach and adjacent areas, creating noise and holding barbecue parties, entering keya forests or collecting, buying and selling keya fruit, and operating motorcycles or similar vehicles on the beach.
Acting Secretary of the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change Dr Fahmida Khanam, Additional Secretary Mohammad Navid Shafiullah, Department of Shipping Director General Commodore Md Shafiul Bari, representatives of relevant ministries and agencies, tourism operators and environmental organisations also attended the meeting. Representatives of the local administration and tourism businesses joined online.
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Editor : Iqbal Sobhan Chowdhury
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Published by the Editor on behalf of the Observer Ltd. from Globe Printers, 24/A, New Eskaton Road, Ramna, Dhaka.
Editorial, News and Commercial Offices : Aziz Bhaban (2nd floor), 93, Motijheel C/A, Dhaka-1000.
Phone: PABX- 41053001-06; Advertisement: 41053012; 01793317829, 01550707291, E-mail: [email protected], [email protected] Online: email: [email protected] 41053014; 01550707297 Advertisement: 01550707296
