Three ships carry 1,554 tourists to Saint Martin’s

Three ships are carrying 1,554 tourists to Saint Martin’s Island on the second day of the current tourist season.

The MV Karnaphuli and MV Teknaf left Nuniachhara Ghat in Cox’s Bazar on Friday morning, joining the MV Baro Aulia, which began operations on Thursday.

Of the tourists, 619 are travelling on the MV Baro Aulia, 387 on the MV Karnaphuli and 548 on the MV Teknaf.

The three approved vessels will operate until March 15 next year, according to the Sea Cruise Operators Owners Association of Bangladesh (SCOAB).

The government had planned to open the island to tourists from November 1, but administrative and environmental clearance issues delayed the operation.

This season, tourists must pay a Tk 100 environmental fee and obtain a travel pass and QR code-based ticket. Several restrictions have also been imposed to protect the island’s fragile ecosystem, including a ban on nighttime beach activities, loud noise and vehicles on the beach.

-AJM