No advance booking pressure for tourists in Kuakata this Eid

Kuakata Sea Beach.

Patuakhali: Eid-ul-Azhar public holiday has started from today. And just one day later, the religious festival of Muslims Eid-ul-Azha is going to be held. Around this festival, the country is on a holiday for five consecutive days from 27th today. Still there is no advance booking requirement at Kuakata Hotel Motel & Resort. Tourism-dependent businessmen have already completed their preparations for the Eid season. Since the last Eid-ul-Fitr holiday, there were no tourists in Kuakata. Therefore, the tourism traders have made extensive preparations for this year's Eid. They are dreaming to make up for the losses of the past days.

According to sources, about 70% of Kuakata's hotels and motels were pre-booked at this time last year. But this time the picture is completely opposite. So far 30% advance booking has been done in some of the premier hotels and motels. Officials said rooms in second- and third-rate hotels and motels are vacant. They blame the hostile weather for such a situation.

Locals say that Kuakata, the country's second beach, may be dry for tourists during this Eid. Due to the much anticipated Padma Bridge, Kuakata, famous for mermaids, has become a major tourist attraction day by day. Once it used to take 10/12 hours to reach Kuakata from Dhaka due to the construction of the Padma Bridge there, it can be reached in 5/6 hours. After the inauguration of the Padma Setu last year, the monsoons saw a huge influx of tourists as sunsets and sunrises can be enjoyed from the same spot. The busyness was among tourism-dependent traders. The authorities of the hotel motel said that this time there was no response to the advance booking.

Managing Director of Residential Hotel Khan Palace. Russell Khan said, last year at this time our room was reserved about 80%. This year it has been 40% so far. Hopefully some more room bookings will be done soon. However, I think political issues and economic recession are already starting to affect tourism.

AGM Alamin Ujjal Apan of elite hotel Sikdar Resort in Kuakata said that if the weather is favorable, the pressure of tourists may increase in Kuakata. Many tourists are still looking for information. Maybe you will complete the booking by planning. Currently: Our room is about 50% reserved.

Managing Director of Confidence Tourism. Saidur Rahman said, this time so far no calls have come.

Hasnain Parvez, Inspector of Tourist Police Kuakata Zone, said that the number of tourists will increase to enjoy Eid. Keeping that in mind, we are ready to ensure the safety of tourists. - Gofran Biswas Palash