Bangladesh boasts an abundance of natural wonders, including rivers, coastlines, beaches, historical sites, sacred locations, hills, woodlands, cascades, and tea plantations that envelop its landscape. Among the 1,007 world heritage sites worldwide, Bangladesh is home to three: the Sundarbans, the Historic Mosque in the city of Bagerhat, and the Ruins of the Buddhist Vihara at Paharpur. Every year, Bangladesh’s natural splendor and tourist attractions draw a significant number of both local and international visitors, who come to experience its breathtaking beauty and cultural heritage sites.
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But, due to the ongoing political turmoil and frequent strikes and blockades in Bangladesh, the tourism industry has taken a substantial hit, causing potential travelers to be hesitant about embarking on trips. Thus, despite offering substantial discounts and an array of conveniences, the industry is not meeting the projected tourist numbers, despite the beginning of the peak travel season.
In light of this, hotels, resorts, restaurants, and other interconnected sectors within the tourism industry are currently seeing a decline in customer numbers, and should this situation persist, their losses will escalate in the upcoming days. The country remained cut off from long-distance bus transportation as a result of the ongoing blockade enforced by the BNP-Jamaat and similar political groups.
The Unanticipated Impact on Tourism
The Bangladesh Nationalist Party initiated a nationwide three-day blockade starting on October 31 to protest the killing and detention of their party members and leaders. This blockade extended into Sunday and Monday. On Wednesday and Thursday, the BNP and other opposition parties have jointly declared another blockade. The most recent blockade represents their endeavor to emphasize the call for the Awami League government’s resignation and to ensure the upcoming general election takes place under an impartial caretaker government.
Bangladesh typically experiences a surge in tourism during the colder months, spanning from November to mid-April. Cox’s Bazar claims the title of Bangladesh’s premier tourist attraction, offering visitors a choice of over 500 hotels, motels, and resorts, in addition to a diverse selection of over 2,000 dining options.
In the words of Md Imam-Al-Razi, the manager of corporate sales and marketing at Praasad Paradise Hotel and Resorts in Cox’s Bazar, the ongoing political turmoil is causing significant challenges for their business.
The political turmoil has also hit Kuakata sea-beach which exhibited a conspicuous lack of activity from photographers, hawkers, and speedboat operators. Hawkers who provide umbrellas and benches for rent in the beach area shared their optimism for a bustling season’s start. Unfortunately, with the blockade in place, Kuakata remains devoid of tourists.
Approximately 80 percent of room bookings for Friday and Saturday at local hotels and resorts were canceled, and no reservations have been made for the forthcoming weekend. Ruman Imtiaz Tushar, the president of the Tour Operators Association of Kuakata, has noted that hotel occupancy has remained at 70 percent on Thursdays, Fridays, and Saturdays, a trend that started with the inauguration of the Padma Bridge in June the previous year.
Correspondingly, the hilly regions of Rangamati, Khagrachhari, and Bandarban are experiencing a significant decline in tourist arrivals.
Tourism’s Contribution to the Bangladeshi Economy
Bangladesh was ranked 157th out of 178 countries globally in terms of its travel and tourism industry’s contribution to the country’s total employment in 2012, which was reported as 1.8% by the World Travel and Tourism Council (WTTC) in 2013. Also, as per the report, in 2017 Bangladesh’s GDP from tourism industry stood at $5.3 billion, which constituted approximately 2.2 percent.
Blockades Denting Entire Supply Chain of Bangladesh
Aside from the tourism sector, all other industries in the country are grappling with severe repercussions due to ongoing blockades. Mahbubul Alam, President of the Federation of Bangladesh Chambers of Commerce and Industry, stated that the economy suffers a daily deficit of more than Tk 6,000 crore during hartals and blockades.
Mohammad Ali Khokon, President of the Bangladesh Textile Mills Association, expressed worries about the resurgence of political instability and its potential impact on the economy, particularly the textile and garment sector. This sector supplies the raw materials for the world’s second-largest garment industry, and Khokon emphasized that its stability is in jeopardy if the supply chain faces disruptions.
Mahmud, a former President of the Dhaka Chamber of Commerce and Industry, voiced concerns that further deterioration in law and order could have a cascading negative effect on the industry, emphasizing the importance of protecting the primary source of foreign exchange income.
In the face of Bangladesh’s unparalleled natural beauty and cultural heritage, the ongoing political turmoil has cast a shadow over its flourishing tourism industry. This unforeseen impact is not limited to tourism alone but reverberates across the entire supply chain of Bangladesh, affecting various industries and potentially endangering the nation’s economic stability.
