Cox's Bazar Correspondent

Cox’s Bazar, the world’s longest sea beach, holds immense potential but has failed to become a top destination for foreign tourists.

It had the opportunity to evolve into a global attraction like Brazil's Praia do Cassino or Australia's Ninety Mile Beach. However, only 4 km of its 120 km stretch captivates domestic tourists, leaving the rest untapped.

If a master plan leveraging the harmony of mountains and sea were implemented, Cox’s Bazar could become a global tourism hub, significantly boosting the economy.

Beyond the sea beach, islands like Saint Martin’s, Maheshkhali, Kutubdia, and Sonadia stand as natural blessings for tourism. While Saint Martin’s is somewhat familiar to tourists, the others remain largely unknown. The nearby mangrove forests, historical landmarks, and diverse communities also add to the region’s appeal.

Despite its breathtaking natural beauty, Cox’s Bazar remains underdeveloped due to the absence of a comprehensive master plan. Poor coordination among government agencies, unplanned beach management, lack of entertainment facilities, and investor reluctance have hindered its growth as a global tourist destination.

Lack of coordination and investment

Tourism experts note that only 3.5-4 km of Cox’s Bazar’s 120 km beach is utilized for tourism, leaving the remaining areas neglected. The region has over 500 hotels and restaurants, yet there are no world-class shopping malls, eco-resorts, or cruise services.

Compared to destinations like the Maldives or Sri Lanka, Cox’s Bazar lacks the necessary infrastructure, such as theme parks, cineplexes, nightclubs, and exclusive zones for foreign tourists.

In 2016, the Cox’s Bazar Development Authority (CoxDA) was established with the aim of transforming 690.67 sq km into a modern tourist city. However, the agency is yet to take full responsibility for the beach due to bureaucratic hurdles.

In December 2022, a Tk174.72 crore survey project was approved to draft a master plan, encompassing a detailed area plan (DAP) and structural planning for eight upazilas. The survey is expected to conclude by June 2025, with the military's Construction Supervision Consultant overseeing the project.

CoxDA urban planner Md Tanvir Hasan Rezaul said, “The masterplan will be finalized by July 2025. If all government departments comply, it will bring significant development to tourism.”

Administrative challenges

Investment in Cox’s Bazar is marred by bureaucratic complexities, with investors needing clearance from at least 16-18 government offices. Experts recommend introducing incentive programmes and a ‘one-stop service’ for investors to simplify the process.

According to the Cox’s Bazar Hotel, Motel, and Guesthouse Owners Association, they proposed 13 measures to boost tourism to the late tourism adviser AF Hassan Ariff, including making part of Sonadia Island a ‘Day Beach’ for sunbathing to attract foreign visitors.

However, without immediate and effective implementation of a masterplan, Cox’s Bazar risks falling further behind as a world-class tourism destination.

Contacted, Mohammad Salahuddin, Deputy Commissioner of Cox’s Bazar, said, "Every week, Cox’s Bazar welcomes around 450,000 to 500,000 tourists. Ensuring the safety of such a large number of tourists, maintaining cleanliness at the beaches, and providing civic amenities are significant issues. Our beach workers and cleaners are working regularly to keep the beaches clean. Along with the Tourist Police, the beach staff also provide tourists with information and ensure their safety."

Commenting that lodging and beach visits alone cannot provide tourists with a complete travel experience, he added, "Apart from Kolatoli, Sugandha, and Laboni beach points, Cox’s Bazar has many historical and naturally scenic spots. The district administration is already developing a 'Tourism App' for travel enthusiasts, which will be launched soon. Through this app, tourists can plan their trips to Cox’s Bazar even before arriving."

Mismanagement at the Beaches

The main attraction of Cox’s Bazar is its beaches. However, only 3.5 to 4 kilometers of the world's longest sea beach covers Kolatoli, Sugandha, and Laboni. These beaches are under the control of the Beach Management Committee, chaired by the Deputy Commissioner (DC) of Cox’s Bazar.

From December 18 to 20, a reporter from the Bangla daily Kaler Kantho explored every corner of these beaches. Most of Sugandha Beach is occupied by makeshift structures, ranging from food hotels to various shops. Walking through the sand reveals stalls selling pickles, guavas, anarkali, spicy snacks, and street food, obstructing the serene view of the ocean. Further ahead, rows of wooden chairs and umbrellas cover the area where the waves meet the shore. Looking back toward the city reveals a chaotic, unplanned urban sprawl.

Sitting on one of these chairs, the reporter was approached by vendors selling tea, coffee, peanuts, chips, pickles, and other items, while others offered head massages or photography services. Such interruptions diminish the experience of enjoying the natural beauty of the beach.

Speaking at Sugandha Beach, Hasan Kabir, who visited with his family from Dhaka, said, "Whenever I get the chance, I come to Cox’s Bazar. But the government seems to have no control over the beaches. The beauty of the beach is hidden behind these makeshift shops. The entire area is dominated by hawkers. Moreover, there are countless stray dogs here. My daughter is terrified of dogs."

Riyad, a tourist from Chandpur, remarked, "Despite having the world's longest beach, we are failing to manage it properly. There’s no visible plan for improvement. To attract more tourists, we should categorize the beaches—some open to the public, others reserved for foreigners. By maintaining the natural beauty and promoting eco-tourism like the Maldives or Sri Lanka, we can attract more international visitors."

He added, "Tourist safety should be a priority. Designating and marking specific areas is essential. Tourists need to understand that Cox’s Bazar is not limited to Kolatoli and Laboni beaches."

Poor waste management

Unplanned waste management is tarnishing the city’s beauty and polluting the environment. Piles of garbage were seen scattered along the roads. On the way to Sugandha Beach, a large pile of trash was spotted near Sea World Hotel, forcing tourists to hold their noses while walking past. Even at 1:00 pm, the municipal workers had not removed the garbage. Along the seashore, mounds of waste were also found in the casuarina forests, reflecting neglect in the management of tourist spots.

Standing near Sea World Hotel, Shariful Islam, an employee of a private company, said, "A tourism city should be kept clean. Seeing piles of garbage in a tourist city sends a bad message to visitors. Garbage should be removed before dawn, and designated disposal sites should be created."

Sources revealed that garbage from different parts of Cox’s Bazar is dumped in the open at Kasturighat near the city. This area, which hosts the 595-meter PC box girder bridge over the Bakkhali River, is poised to be a new tourist attraction. However, garbage heaps on one side and private facilities like plantations and fisheries projects on the other overshadow its potential.

Local resident Hanif, speaking near Kasturighat's Anderson Road, said, "The entire waste from Cox’s Bazar is dumped at Kasturighat’s garbage depot, causing a constant stench in the area. People here suffer from different health issues. We need efficient waste management like in developed countries, or else this tourism city will turn into a garbage dump one day."

Need for local and foreign investment

While Cox’s Bazar has various government and private hotels and motels, reluctance to attract investment hinders the city’s entertainment offerings. Stakeholders pointed out that starting a new project requires 16 different approvals from government offices, which discourages many initiatives from coming to fruition.

Regarding this, former MP of Cox’s Bazar-3 constituency, Lutfur Rahman Kajal, said, “Private investment is essential alongside government efforts for the development of the tourism sector. However, domestic and foreign investors are reluctant to invest in Cox’s Bazar due to bureaucratic complications. If it takes visits to 16 departments to get a project approved, no one will feel encouraged. A one-stop service for investors should be introduced. Before that, CoxDA should release its master plan.”

“Landless people and Rohingyas are occupying different hills in Cox’s Bazar. Even government institutions are being leased land at zero revenue. If these lands were leased to domestic and foreign investors while maintaining the environmental balance, the government could have earned significant revenue.”

The President of the Hotel, Motel, and Guesthouse Owners’ Association, Abul Kasem Sikder, said, “A one-stop service under CoxDA is essential for the development of the tourism industry. Significant revenue cannot be generated solely from hotels and the sea beach. Investments in other entertainment sectors are also needed.”

Former MP of Cox’s Bazar-4 constituency, Shahjahan Chowdhury, said, “Tourism development must be carried out while preserving the environment. Increasing the tourism sector’s contribution to GDP requires coordinated efforts. Opportunities must be created for domestic and foreign investments, and additional facilities need to be provided to attract more tourists to Bangladesh.”