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Saint Martin’s Island, Bangladesh’s only coral island, will reopen to tourists on November 1, allowing visits until March 15, 2027, under revised restrictions aimed at protecting its fragile environment.
Under the new guidelines, an average of up to 3,500 tourists will be allowed to visit the island daily, up from the previous limit of 2,000.
Each visitor will have to pay Tk 100 as an environmental conservation fee.
The decisions were communicated in a directive issued by the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change on Sunday, October 25, following an inter-ministerial meeting chaired by Environment Minister Abdul Awal Mintoo.
Authorised tourist vessels will operate from Nunia Chhara Ghat in Cox’s Bazar.
No vessel will be allowed to operate on the Saint Martin’s route without prior approval from the environment ministry.
The Department of Environment has been instructed to take the necessary measures to collect the conservation fee under the relevant environmental regulations.
Existing restrictions on tourism and environmental protection will remain in force. Tourists must obtain online tickets with travel passes and QR codes through the authorised system.
Overnight stays will remain prohibited in November but will be allowed from December, under the existing rules.
The island will also remain subject to restrictions on single-use plastics, nighttime lighting and loud activities on the beach, barbecues, and motor vehicles.
The measures are intended to balance tourism with the protection of the island’s coral reefs, marine life and biodiversity.
