Although there are some limitations and shortages, Cox's Bazar remains the country’s most picturesque tourist city. However, foreign tourists are nowhere to be found in the city. On the other hand, domestic tourists are increasingly choosing destinations like the Maldives, Thailand, and Sri Lanka. The country’s tourism industry is struggling due to the lack of a comprehensive plan to harness the immense beauty of Cox’s Bazar.
A report by Bangladesh Bank has revealed that when it comes to credit card usage by Bangladeshi travelers, the United States ranks first, followed by Thailand. Tourism industry experts say that many people are turning away from domestic tourist spots due to excessively high hotel charges, safety concerns, extra travel costs, and middlemen. Additionally, the lack of additional facilities for foreign tourists, poor branding, and a lack of a well-planned tourism infrastructure are contributing to the decline in tourist numbers.
An analysis of the information from the Police Special Branch also shows a steady decline in the number of foreign tourists arriving in Bangladesh. Many foreign workers are engaged in various development projects across the country, which has led to a slight increase in foreign arrivals. However, there is no clear data available on foreign tourists specifically visiting tourism centers.
Tourism sector entrepreneurs claim that it is almost impossible to say that foreign tourists are coming now. A list of foreign arrivals by year from the Special Branch of the Police shows that in 2017, 566,500 foreign nationals visited Bangladesh. In the following two years, the figures were 552,730 and 621,131, respectively. However, due to the coronavirus pandemic in 2020, this number dropped to 181,518. The following year, it further decreased to 135,186. In 2022 and 2023, the number of foreign nationals arriving in the country was 529,268 and 655,451, respectively.
However, tourism sector entrepreneurs are skeptical of these statistics. They argue that simply arriving from abroad does not make someone a tourist. Over 99% of these people are working on various projects, and while some visit Cox's Bazar's sea beaches and other tourist spots, this number remains very small, if not negligible.
Abul Kasem Sikdar, the president of the Hotel Motel Guesthouse Owners' Association, who has been involved in the tourism business since the early 1990s, says, "After the Rohingya crisis began in 2017, foreign arrivals started increasing. Mainly, NGO workers came to assist the Rohingyas. Additionally, after the construction of the Matarbari Port, many foreign engineers came to Bangladesh. Many of them stay in various hotels in Cox's Bazar, but they are not tourists."
Tourists say that traveling abroad is more affordable compared to Bangladesh. It is reported that a 6-night, 7-day tour to Sri Lanka or the Maldives is being offered for only Tk 75,000 with a fresh passport, without any documentation requirements. This package includes return airfare, four-star hotels, breakfast, pick-up and drop-off, city tours, all taxes, and a tour guide. Additionally, various tour agencies offer a 3-night, 4-day Nepal tour package for Tk 45,500 BDT, which includes stays in four-star hotels and airfare, with expenses being quite similar.
Ali Ibrahim, a private sector employee from Bangladesh, says, "It is much cheaper to travel abroad than to any destination in Bangladesh. In Thailand, a sea-view room in a four-star hotel costs only Tk 3,000 to 4,000, whereas in Bangladesh, it would cost Tk 8,000 to 10,000. Moreover, the transport system there is highly developed. The most important thing is that you feel safe there."
According to the latest report from Bangladesh Bank, there has been a notable increase in the use of credit cards by foreigners staying in the country. In October 2023, foreigners spent a total of Tk 12.9 billion using their credit cards, up from Tk 11.1 billion in September. This indicates an increase of Tk 1.8 billion or approximately 16.2%. The biggest portion of these credit card expenses went towards cash withdrawals, totaling Tk 4.7 billion.
Meanwhile, when it comes to credit card usage abroad by Bangladeshis, Thailand has moved up to second place. After the political changes in August, the trend of credit card usage in Thailand increased. In September, Bangladeshis spent Tk 4.2 billion using credit cards in Thailand, and by October, this had surged to Tk 5.7 billion, showing an increase of Tk 1.6 billion. As a result, Thailand overtook India, which was previously in second place.
In October, Bangladeshis spent a total of Tk 49.9 billion using credit cards abroad, up from Tk 42.1 billion in September. The highest expenditure was in the United States, where Bangladeshis spent Tk 8.4 billion in October, compared to Tk 7.7 billion in September. This represents an increase of Tk 700 million, or roughly 8.5%.
In a conversation with Advocate Rahid Mirza, who came to Cox's Bazar with his family from Chittagong, he says, "Tourism could be one of the main sources of foreign currency for the country. However, I haven't seen a single foreign tourist in two days. It is not possible to develop the tourism sector with just domestic tourists." He further adds, "We need to offer additional facilities for foreign tourists. There should be designated areas for them, and their security needs to be ensured."
