The Tour Operators Association of Bangladesh president, Mohammed Rafiuzzaman, on Saturday said that collaboration among the government, the Ministry of Environment and the other tourism stakeholders was needed to protect both environment and tourism industry.
At a press conference at the Economic Reporters鈥� Forum auditorium in Dhaka, he said that they would launch tougher movements if any restrictive measures were imposed ahead of the upcoming tourism season at Saint Martin and in Cox鈥檚 Bazar.
鈥楾he livelihood of thousands of people in the tourism sector in Cox鈥檚 Bazar and Saint Martin depends on the earnings from just four months of tourism between November and February,鈥� he said.
The press conference organised by the Saint Martin Poribesh and Porjatan Okkya Unnoyan Jote protested at the government鈥檚 recent move to limit tourist activities and overnight stays on the coral island.
Rafiuzzaman said that while tourists could not visit the island for the remaining eight months of the year,聽 environmental restoration should be prioritised during that period.
The association also called for the development of a sustainable tourism policy, with input from stakeholders, to protect both the industry and the island鈥檚 ecosystem.
鈥楢 comprehensive policy should be formulated to ensure responsible tourism,鈥� Rafiuzzaman urged.
The press event was attended, among others, by Saint Martin Poribesh and Porjatan Okkya Unnoyan chairman Shiblul Azam Qureshi.
