Thursday, 21 November, 2024
Addressing the backlash regarding travel restrictions on St. Martin’s Island, Environment Advisor Syeda Rizwana Hasan explained that the government has implemented certain limitations on tourism to safeguard the only coral island in the country.
She made these remarks while speaking to reporters following the One Health Day program at the Pan Pacific Sonargaon Hotel in Dhaka on Monday.
Rizwana highlighted the environmental damage caused by the unchecked development of hotels and motels on the island, stating, “If this continues, by 2025, all the corals will be destroyed, and St. Martin’s will sink.”
Under the interim government’s new regulations, St. Martin’s Island will be open to tourists from November to January. However, overnight stays will not be permitted in November. In December and January, up to 2,000 tourists will be allowed to visit and stay overnight, but no tourists will be permitted in February.
Responding to criticisms of the government’s decision, Rizwana remarked, “People are muddying the waters for no reason regarding St. Martin’s. There is always a group that questions the actions of the interim government with negative publicity.”
“Will you prioritize saving St. Martin’s or developing the tourism industry? Currently, this cannot even be classified as an industry. The way tourism is being managed on St. Martin’s makes it impossible for me to label it as such,” she added.
Rizwana noted that approximately 41% of the corals have already been destroyed, according to national statistics. She referenced internationally accepted studies warning that if the current trajectory continues, all corals will be gone by 2025, leading to the island's submersion. “Where will tourism go then?” she asked.
She further criticized the unregulated development of hotels and motels, stating, “Corals are being planted in hotels. Tourists are visiting and taking corals.”
Rizwana cited examples of other coral islands globally where overnight stays are prohibited, allowing tourists to only visit for limited periods in small boats. “In popular tourist destinations like Thailand, Malaysia, and the Philippines, certain areas have been closed for years to facilitate regeneration,” she explained.
“We are currently at a crossroads. If we implement an outright ban on tourism now, we won’t give the local communities adequate time to adjust. This is why tourism is still permitted on St. Martin’s Island.”
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Addressing the backlash regarding travel restrictions on St. Martin’s Island, Environment Advisor Syeda Rizwana Hasan explained that the government has implemented certain limitations on tourism to safeguard the only coral island in the country.
She made these remarks while speaking to reporters following the One Health Day program at the Pan Pacific Sonargaon Hotel in Dhaka on Monday.
Rizwana highlighted the environmental damage caused by the unchecked development of hotels and motels on the island, stating, “If this continues, by 2025, all the corals will be destroyed, and St. Martin’s will sink.”
Under the interim government’s new regulations, St. Martin’s Island will be open to tourists from November to January. However, overnight stays will not be permitted in November. In December and January, up to 2,000 tourists will be allowed to visit and stay overnight, but no tourists will be permitted in February.
Responding to criticisms of the government’s decision, Rizwana remarked, “People are muddying the waters for no reason regarding St. Martin’s. There is always a group that questions the actions of the interim government with negative publicity.”
“Will you prioritize saving St. Martin’s or developing the tourism industry? Currently, this cannot even be classified as an industry. The way tourism is being managed on St. Martin’s makes it impossible for me to label it as such,” she added.
Rizwana noted that approximately 41% of the corals have already been destroyed, according to national statistics. She referenced internationally accepted studies warning that if the current trajectory continues, all corals will be gone by 2025, leading to the island's submersion. “Where will tourism go then?” she asked.
She further criticized the unregulated development of hotels and motels, stating, “Corals are being planted in hotels. Tourists are visiting and taking corals.”
Rizwana cited examples of other coral islands globally where overnight stays are prohibited, allowing tourists to only visit for limited periods in small boats. “In popular tourist destinations like Thailand, Malaysia, and the Philippines, certain areas have been closed for years to facilitate regeneration,” she explained.
“We are currently at a crossroads. If we implement an outright ban on tourism now, we won’t give the local communities adequate time to adjust. This is why tourism is still permitted on St. Martin’s Island.”
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