Saint Martin's Island is set to reopen to tourists tomorrow (November 1st) after a nine-month closure aimed at environmental recovery. To protect the island's fragile ecosystem (home to 1,076 documented species), the government has imposed a strict daily limit of 2,000 visitors and issued 12 comprehensive directives for eco-friendly tourism.
The temporary closure since February 1st led to notable improvements in the island’s environment. Local observers noted that red crabs and other marine species are now breeding, and turtle nesting sites have developed due to the absence of pollution and motorized vehicles on the beach.
A strict daily cap of 2,000 visitors will be enforced.
Tourists must purchase tickets online through the Bangladesh Tourism Board’s recognized web portal. Each ticket will feature a QR code for validity.
Passenger vessels will now depart from Cox's Bazar city instead of the previous Teknaf route. Damaging wildlife/coral, using motorized vehicles on the beach, carrying single-use plastics, and overnight stays in November are strictly forbidden.
February will remain fully closed. Tourism activities will be permitted only from November through January.
