Winter in this part of the world has long lost its bite although in the country's north it has at times spells of severe cold wave. The sea coasts are particularly pleasant during the season. With the educational institutions remaining closed during this time, families who can afford look for outings. So the best options for vacationing are the sea beaches of Cox's Bazar and Kua Kata. No wonder, the newly developed pastime of holidaying by a growing number of compatriots with no legacy to back them up is going from strength to strength. It is proving a driving force behind the flourishing internal tourism.
Vacationing means freedom from the routine drudgery and an opportunity for breathing fresh air in attractive scenic sites. With one of the highest demographic density, Bangladesh boasted a number of unspoiled pristine tourist spots until recently. That advantage is no longer enjoyed by domestic tourists who converge on a few familiar sites of attraction in their thousands. The twin gifts of Nature ---overhanging hills and long stretch of sea shore ---are special to Cox's Bazar and hence its appeal is irresistible. Kuakata has its own charm in that the beach offers the unique opportunity to see sunrise and sunset.
When the rest of the country shivers from moderate to biting chill with frost enveloping the surroundings in the northern parts, the two sea beaches stand out for pleasant weather with the sun shining brightly. A splash in the sea almost always in agitation over what even it does not know is a renewal with the primordial land-sea bond that is responsible for the origin of flora and fauna. The attraction is sweet and fatal at the same time.
Many express their disappointment over underdevelopment of the tourism industry. Their argument is in favour of far higher revenue earning by this sector if planned and developed well. What is missing from such reasoning is the spoiling and destruction of tourist sites. It is a huge number of tourists who gather at the tourist spots during the festivals or in time of long holidays of schools and colleges. The sites are overwhelmed by mostly uninitiated holidaymakers. Quite a number of waterfalls in Sylhet and Cox's Bazar have either disappeared or are on life support.
Some sites like Batali Pahar (hill) and Sitakunda have been subjected to rapacious denudation. The two beaches are also fast turning dirty and uninviting because of the lack of responsible habits and practices on the part of holidaymakers. A far greater threat comes from contamination of the seawater ---most probably from plastic and chemical effluent that end up in seas. That huge numbers of dead fish were washed ashore in recent times shows how the marine life is threatened and both the beaches run the risk of becoming unhealthy for a dip in the seawaters.
Apparently the threat is related to climate change but in the ultimate analysis it is man and man alone is responsible for such decline in tourist spots and sea beaches. In an overpopulated country in which more people are developing a knack for holidaying, the sites are limited with barely the capacity to cope with the growing pressure. If the number of internal tourists continues to proliferate at a steady rate, soon the sites will deteriorate beyond recuperation.
What is needed most is to foster the concept of eco-tourism by the Bangladesh Parjata Corporation. The vacationers also must be encouraged to appreciate the dos and dont's of enjoying themselves in a highly frequented tourist site. The spots that are more sensitive should be barred from any visit on a week day or for even a month in the off-season so that those can get the breathing space for recuperation. Tourism can be encouraged but not at the cost of the tourist spots.
