Hotels, motels, restaurants in Cox's Bazar witness turnover of BDT 210cr

Dhaka : Hotels, motels, restaurants and other tourism businesses across the most popular holiday destination of the country Cox's Bazar witnessed a turnover of BDT 1,600 crore in total in only two weeks ending on December 27, according to Cox's Bazar Chamber of Commerce and Industry. However, hotels, motels, and other residential establishments alone generated a business turnover of BDT 210 crore.

Thanks to the year-end rush of travelers to the tourism hotspot, businesses registered a subsequent rise in sales, bookings, and business activity.

Cox's Bazar Chamber of Commerce and Industry also claimed that the tourist count in the beach town was a staggering 16 lac during the said two weeks until December 27. The estimates were made considering the capacity of residential hotels, motels, and guest houses in the town.

Reports cited Abul Kashem Sikdar, President of Cox's Bazar Hotel-Guest House Owners' Association, saying, tourist arrivals in Cox's Bazar were on the rise since December 13, and it continued for 15 consecutive days till December 27. However, the arrivals started to decrease slightly from December 28.

Currently, reports claimed, there are 550 residential business establishments in Cox's Bazar town, with an average capacity to host 1,20,000 tourists in total per day. In the 15 days till December 28, per day tourist count at these establishments was one lac on average. As such, 16 lac tourists visited Cox's Bazar in those two weeks.

During the 15 days, 100 luxury and star-rated establishments contributed to a daily business turnover of around BDT 10 lac each, culminating in a total of BDT 10 crore, while the combined business activity at 200 medium-quality establishments was worth BDT 1 lac each day, generating BDT 2 crore in total.

Besides, the turnover in 200 low-capacity establishments was BDT 50,000 per day, culminating in BDT 1 crore during the 15 days, while 50 cottages and other guest houses saw a turnover of BDT 20,000 each per day, generating BDT 1 crore in total.

Furthermore, reports cited Mohammad Ali, Cox's Bazar District Unit President of Bangladesh Restaurant Owners' Association, saying, currently there are at least 500 restaurants in Cox's Bazar, of which 120 are members of the association.

As per reports, he said, in the last 15 days, these 120 restaurants have generated approximately BDT 30 crore.

According to him, and taking into account the business activity of their members, 500 restaurants across all tourist spots of Cox's Bazar saw business activity amounting to a cumulative BDT 75 crore in the 15 days.

However, reports also cited Cox's Bazar Chamber of Commerce and Industry President Abu Morshed Chowdhury Khoka saying, the number of tourist arrivals in Cox's Bazar, and the count of tourism businesses are all based on estimates. "No exact figures are available," reports cited him saying.

He said in the beach town, 500 hotels and motels, 500 restaurants, various shops, including the Burmese Market, long-haul transport, St Martin's Island-bound vessels, sea fish, snail and oyster shops and various types of transport, including easy bikes, are involved in tourism.

Reports cited Kashem Sikdar saying, though tourist arrivals have declined since December 28, the rush is expected to continue till the first week of January.

He said, 30-40 per cent of the hotel rooms have already been booked for various periods till January.