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Tourist trips to Saint Martin’s Island will not begin on November 1 as scheduled due to delays in obtaining the necessary approvals for passenger vessels, although the government has opened the island to visitors from that date.
Shipowners expect services to begin on November 5 or 6, subject to the completion of the approval process.
According to the district administration and the Department of Environment, an inter-ministerial meeting held at the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change on October 12 decided on the arrangements for the tourist season.
A notification issued on October 25 retained the previous year’s conditions, allowing day trips in November and overnight stays in December and January. The decision created confusion among tourists, hotel and restaurant owners, and ship operators.
The ministry subsequently revised the decision and issued a fresh notification on October 27, allowing tourists to visit and stay overnight on the island from November 1, 2026, to March 15, 2027.
The revised notification, signed by Senior Assistant Secretary Sabr ina Rahman, also set a daily visitor limit of 3,500.
Hossain Islam, general secretary of the Sea Cruise Operators Owners Association of Bangladesh, said passenger vessel operations required clearance from the environment ministry, approval from the Department of Shipping, a route permit from the Bangladesh Inland Water Transport Authority (BIWTA) and permission from the Cox’s Bazar deputy commissioner.
However, the approval process has not yet been completed, he said.
The software that the Bangladesh Tourism Board is supposed to introduce for collecting and registering tourist information is also not ready.
As a result, vessels cannot operate from November 1, although preparations are underway to launch services on November 5 or 6, he added.
Acting chairman of Saint Martin’s Union Parishad Foyezul Islam said thousands of island residents had been excited by the announcement that the island would reopen to tourists on November 1.
More than 230 hotels, resorts, cottages and restaurants had prepared to accommodate overnight visitors, he said.
However, the delay in approving tourist vessels has left the opening date uncertain. While some expect services to begin between November 5 and 7, others believe operations may start on November 15, he added.
Cox’s Bazar Deputy Commissioner Md A Mannan said the administration was maintaining strict safety measures for tourists visiting Saint Martin’s and other tourist destinations in the district.
Although the island would be open to tourists from November 1, vessels would receive permission only after their fitness and safety were verified, he said.
A meeting between the administration and shipowners is scheduled for Saturday at 11am to finalise the date for resuming operations.
The deputy commissioner said tourists would be allowed to travel to Saint Martin’s only on government-approved vessels departing from the BIWTA jetty in Cox’s Bazar. Travel from Teknaf, Shah Porir Dwip or Ukhia would not be permitted.
Tourists must also complete online registration before travelling, he said.
Referring to a fire aboard a tourist vessel last year, Mannan said the authorities were inspecting the vessels to prevent a recurrence and would issue operating permission only after ensuring compliance with safety requirements.
Passenger vessels to Saint Martin’s operate from the BIWTA jetty at Nuniachhara on the Bankhali River in Cox’s Bazar city. The island is around 120 kilometres from the jetty, with the entire journey passing through the Bay of Bengal.