The scenic tourist hub of Rangamati is facing an unprecedented lack of visitors, with local authorities discouraging travel to the region from October 8 to 31 to ensure public safety. 

Tourism-related businesses in Rangamati are reporting losses amounting to hundreds of crores in what is typically their peak season.

The travel restrictions follow a series of ethnic clashes that erupted after the killing of a young man named Mamun on August 18 in Khagrachhari. 

These clashes spread across Khagrachhari, Dighinala, and Rangamati, leading to the death of four individuals across two districts and injuries to many. 

Local tourism businesses and religious establishments were also impacted by the violence, prompting the administration to discourage tourism in the hill districts of Khagrachhari, Bandarban, and Rangamati for safety reasons.

Since the late 1980s, tourism has gradually become the backbone of Rangamati’s economy, giving rise to numerous hotels, resorts, local textile shops, tour boats, restaurants, and teak furniture outlets. These businesses are now struggling to stay afloat, with Rangamati having been tourist-free for the past 24 days.

Business owners dependent on tourism are struggling to cover bank loans, reporting severe financial strain. Many have had to let go of employees as losses mount.

Sumedh Dewan, owner of Barghi Lake, grieved, "We are in the peak tourist season, yet we have no visitors. We've suffered losses in the crores due to the lack of tourism."

Bappi Tanachangya, president of the Rangamati House Boat Association, shared that the tourism sector has millions invested, much of it financed by bank loans. 

“We’ve had to lay off most of our staff. If this situation persists, we may be forced to shut down entirely,” he said.

Mohammad Masud, General Secretary of the Rangamati Restaurant Owners’ Association, explained, “We have over a hundred restaurants in the district. If each restaurant faces an average daily loss of Tk 5,000, that means a collective daily loss of Tk 5 lakh. We need administrative support to reopen access for tourists soon.”

The Rangamati Resort Owners' Association President, Tanoy Dewan, added, “In a full season, we could have generated business worth hundreds of crores. The tourism sector always bears the brunt during crises.”

In Sajek, where the situation has been dire for over 35 days, many investors are contemplating leaving the sector due to unmanageable losses. “We’ve estimated Tk 12 crore in losses, and this number is likely to rise. Without tourists, we’re facing financial ruin,” said Suparno Deb Barman, President of the Sajek Resort Owners' Association.

Abdul Wadud, President of the Rangamati Chamber of Commerce and Industry, noted that tourism is the foundation of the local economy. “With no tourists, businesses are incurring crores in losses, and if this continues, the livelihoods of local residents will be deeply impacted.”

Business owners have urgently urged the administration to stabilize the situation and allow tourists to return, hoping that a swift recovery in visitor numbers will help them recoup their losses.

BDST: 1726 HRS, OCT 27, 2024
MSK/SMS