Saint Martin’s Island, Bangladesh’s only coral island, will reopen to tourists on 1 November after a nine-month closure aimed at protecting its fragile ecosystem.
Tourism Secretary Nasrin Jahan announced the decision at a press briefing in Dhaka on Thursday (September 25) marking World Tourism Day. She said up to 2,000 tourists per day would be allowed to visit the island through an online registration system.
Sheikh Bashir Uddin, adviser to the Ministry of Civil Aviation and Tourism, said a new tourism policy is in the final stages of preparation to protect the country’s tourism industry.
Officials explained that a dedicated software system is being developed to register visitors before they travel to the island. Although the system is not yet finalized, they said work is near completion and will soon be open for public use.
Previously, the Environment, Forest and Climate Change Ministry had formed a joint committee to control tourist numbers and vessel operations to Saint Martin’s. Under that plan, visitors were required to register and follow strict regulations. The interim government later extended the closure for nine months to help protect the island’s biodiversity.
During the closure, environmental adviser Syeda Rizwana Hasan said the measure was essential to save Saint Martin’s Island and shift it toward a more community-centered tourism model.
The suspension of tourism and passenger vessel services has taken a toll on local businesses and workers, leaving the island’s jetty largely deserted and many tourism workers idle. Authorities hope the reopening with stricter controls will balance conservation with livelihoods.
