DHAKA, October 31, 2026 — Bangladesh’s only coral island, St Martin’s, will reopen to tourists from November 1, allowing visitors to travel to the island and stay overnight until March 15 next year.

However, despite the government’s decision to reopen the island, tourist vessel services have yet to begin as operators are still awaiting necessary administrative clearances. The delay has created uncertainty among tourists planning to visit the popular destination.

Hotels, resorts and restaurants on the island are preparing to welcome visitors. Local residents and tourism-dependent businesses, which have faced financial difficulties during the prolonged restrictions, are hopeful of a recovery. At the same time, recent fatal fires at tourist facilities in Cox’s Bazar have raised concerns over fire safety at accommodation facilities on the island.

Under a revised notification issued by the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change on October 27, tourists will be allowed to visit St Martin’s from November 1 to March 15 and stay overnight throughout the period. The daily visitor limit has been set at 3,500.

Visitors will be required to obtain travel passes and QR-code-based tickets, as in the previous season.

Vessel Operations Await Administrative Approval

Although tourist transportation was expected to begin on November 1, vessels are unlikely to operate on the route from the opening day because several regulatory approvals remain pending.

Three vessels — MV Karnaphuli Express, MV Bar Aulia and MV Teknaf — have received clearance from the Department of Environment. However, they are yet to secure the required approvals from the Bangladesh Inland Water Transport Authority (BIWTA), the Department of Shipping and the Cox’s Bazar district administration.

Hossain Islam Bahadur, general secretary of the Sea Cruise Operators Owners Association of Bangladesh (SCOWAB), said three vessels were ready to transport tourists, with a combined passenger capacity of around 2,300.

He said the vessels received environmental clearance last Thursday morning. However, the voyage licences from the Department of Shipping, route permits and operating schedules from BIWTA, and local approval from the Cox’s Bazar district administration were still pending.

Bahadur also said that tourists were showing interest in booking tickets, but the Tourism Board’s travel-pass software had not yet become operational.

“If these complications are resolved quickly, vessel services may begin by November 5 or 6,” he said.

Tourist vessels are expected to depart from the BIWTA jetty at North Nuniachhara in Cox’s Bazar city, as in previous years.

Md Mahmudur Rahman Sayem, the official responsible for the tourism cell at the Cox’s Bazar district administration, said no vessel had yet been authorised to operate to St Martin’s because the required documents had not been submitted.

He added that preparations by the Bangladesh Tourism Board were also incomplete. The deputy commissioner is scheduled to visit the island on November 4 to hold a meeting with relevant stakeholders.

Overnight Stays Allowed Throughout the Season

The revised notification has resolved confusion over whether tourists would be allowed to stay overnight during November and February-March.

An inter-ministerial meeting on tourist access to St Martin’s was held at the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change on October 12. Following the meeting, the ministry issued a notification on October 25, retaining provisions from an earlier notification issued on October 22, 2025.

Under the earlier provisions, tourists were allowed to visit the island only during the daytime in November and return on the same day. Overnight stays were permitted only in December and January.

This created uncertainty among tourists and local businesses about whether overnight stays would be allowed in November and during February and March.

The ministry subsequently issued a revised notification on October 27, clarifying that tourists would be allowed to stay overnight throughout the period from November 1 to March 15.

Sabrina Rahman, senior assistant secretary at the ministry, said the confusion over overnight stays in November and February-March had been addressed through the revised notification.

Barrister Mutasim Billah Faruqi, chief executive of the Bangladesh Tourism Board, said tourists would again need travel passes to visit the island.

He said preparations were underway to introduce the system, adding that visitors would have to obtain travel passes and QR-code-based tickets through the Tourism Board.

Environmental Restrictions to Remain in Force

Restrictions imposed to protect St Martin’s fragile ecosystem and biodiversity will remain in place during the upcoming tourist season.

Under the guidelines, activities such as lighting up beaches and surrounding areas at night, creating excessive noise and organising barbecue parties will be prohibited.

Entering the island’s keya forests, as well as collecting or trading keya fruits, will also remain prohibited.

Tourists will be barred from activities that could damage marine and island biodiversity, including harming sea turtles, birds, corals, snails, shells, starfish, horseshoe crabs, seagrass and algae.

The use of motorcycles, sea-bikes and similar vehicles on the beach will also be prohibited.

Fire Safety Concerns at Hotels and Resorts

Fire safety at hotels, resorts and cottages on St Martin’s has become a growing concern ahead of the reopening.

The issue has drawn renewed attention following a recent fire at TupTup Resto and Resort in Patuartek, Ukhiya, along the Marine Drive in Cox’s Bazar, which claimed the lives of 11 tourists. A fire incident was also reported on St Martin’s recently.

Local resident Ziaul Karim said that when fires break out at hotels, resorts or restaurants on the island, people often have to rely on household water pipes to try to extinguish them. Local residents and members of law enforcement agencies also assist in such situations.

However, he said, controlling a major fire becomes difficult with the limited equipment available on the island.

Another resident, Mostak Ahmed, said simply instructing hotels and resorts to keep fire extinguishers would not be enough to ensure tourist safety.

He stressed the need for regular inspections to ensure that the equipment was functional, alongside safe electrical connections, kitchen fire-safety measures, emergency exits and trained staff.

Faizul Islam, acting chairman of St Martin’s Union Parishad, said discussions had been held with the Fire Service following a fire at a resort on the island.

He said hotels and resorts had been instructed to keep fire extinguishers, although he did not expect a fire station to be established on the island in the immediate future.

Kamruzzaman Sumon, station commander of the Teknaf Fire Service, said he had recently joined the station and planned to take initiatives regarding fire safety on the island.

He said he would visit St Martin’s to assess the situation and consider necessary measures, including arrangements for fire safety services and trained personnel.

Local Businesses Hope for Tourism Recovery

The reopening has raised hopes among residents and business owners who depend on tourism for their livelihoods.

For decades, fishing and agriculture were the main occupations of most island residents. However, as tourist arrivals increased over the past two decades, many shifted from traditional livelihoods to tourism-related businesses and services.

Restrictions on tourist access over the past year disrupted businesses dependent on visitors, including hotels, resorts, restaurants and transport services.

Local entrepreneurs now hope the reopening will help revive economic activities on the island.

Acting Union Parishad Chairman Faizul Islam said people from different professions were busy preparing for the arrival of tourists. Businesses were renovating their establishments and making arrangements to accommodate visitors.

SM Anik Chowdhury, Teknaf Upazila Nirbahi Officer (UNO), described St Martin’s as an attractive tourist destination and said up to 3,500 visitors would be allowed to travel to the island daily from November 1.

He said the Coast Guard, Border Guard Bangladesh, Navy and police would work to ensure tourist safety.

Despite the reopening announcement, however, tourism activities are unlikely to return to normal until vessel operating approvals, the travel-pass system and other necessary arrangements are completed.