Tourism sector eyeing brisk business

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Tourism sector eyeing brisk business
« on: August 16, 2014, 01:55:03 PM »
By Yasir Wardad

Local tourism sector is eyeing brisk business as thousands of tourists have been thronging the country's most lucrative places thanks to the three-day-long government holiday from Friday to Sunday.

Tour operators are witnessing a rush of people second time just two weeks after the Eid celebration, they said.

Tickets for train, private-run bus and airways from Thursday to Saturday have almost been finished, insiders said.

Shafiqul Islam Belal, official at a private bank, was at Hanif Paribahan at Kalabagan in the city Wednesday night to confirm tickets for Cox's Bazar.

Talking to the FE he said these are last holidays before Eid-ul-Azha and he doesn't want to waste it.

"During Eid-ul-Fitr, it was necessary to remain at home with parents and in Eid-ul-Azha we will be busy with our sacrificing animals," he said.

"An additional one day (Sunday) leave on the occasion of 'Janmashtami' has come as a great pleasure for us," he said.   

However, the hotel booking has swelled by more 50 per cent for Thursday night to Sunday compared to that of normal days, Tour Operators' Association of Bangladesh (TOAB) officials said.

Abul Kauim Chawdhury, General Secretary of Cox's Bazar Hotel-Motel and Guest House Owners' Association said around 50 per cent of the hotel rooms have been booked in more than 400 hotels in the resort town.

He said if weather remains favourable, the booking would go up to 80 per cent by today (Saturday).

Managing Director of Galaxy Travel International Taufiq Uddin Ahmed told the FE that they are expecting good business with local tourists during the three-day vacation as the environment is very suitable for tourists now.

MN Karim, Chairman of Ocean Paradise Hotel and Resort in Cox's Bazar said 60 per cent of his hotel rooms have been booked in advance for next three/four days.

HM Hakim Ali, President of Bangladesh International Hotel Association said the industry is regaining from the losses it incurred last year for political turmoil.

Md Shamsad Ali, counter manager of Hanif Paribahan at Kalabagan, told the FE that tickets of Thursday (night) to Friday for Chittagong and Cox's Bazar were sold out before Tuesday.

He said generally on Thursday night, many service-holders go home to pass two days of official holiday on the weekend (Friday and Saturday).

"But, these three days' leave at a row, has pushed up the demand for tickets significantly," he said.