Crowd of tourists in Kuakata in Durga Puja holidays, beach carnival
Gofran Palash, Kalapara (Patuakhali)
A large number of tourists have begun arriving in Kuakata, drawn by the public holidays for the Durga Puja festival and a two-day beach carnival. So far, 60 to 80 percent of the rooms in the tourist town’s hotels, motels, and resorts have already been booked in advance.
There is a five-day consecutive holiday starting today, Tuesday, and running through October 24. The beach carnival is scheduled to take place on October 23 and 24. Organized by the Bangladesh Tourism Board, the festival will feature a variety of events, including cultural performances by renowned national artists, a beach marathon, beach football, a kite festival, an art competition for children and teenagers, and opportunities to witness the sunrise and sunset including various programs.
Tourism entrepreneur Anwar Hossain Anu stated that Kuakata has over 300 hotels, motels, and resorts, with the capacity to accommodate 40,000 to 50,000 overnight guests. To manage the increased demand, many private homes in five surrounding villages have been prepared to serve as homestays.
Al Amin Khan Ujjal, assistant manager at the upscale Sikdar Resort and Villas in Kuakata, noted that approximately 70 percent of their cottages and villas are already booked, and they expect full occupancy within a day or two.
Abdul Motaleb Sharif, president of the Kuakata Hotel-Motel Owners Association, mentioned that the Durga Puja holiday period is one of the busiest times of the year for tourism. While 70 to 80 percent of rooms in first- and second-tier hotels are booked, most rooms in third-tier hotels remain available. Some hotels have announced discounts of up to 50 percent on room rates to attract visitors.
Md. Kazi Faruk, owner of President Park, stated that more than 5,000 to 7,000 workers—across 16 tourism-related sectors, including hotels, motels, and restaurants—are prepared to welcome the tourists. In addition to over a hundred trained tour guides, more than two hundred other workers from various sectors have also received training.
Yasin Sadek, Municipal Administrator of Kuakata and the Upazila Assistant Commissioner (Land), stated that Kuakata has been given a fresh look for the Durga Puja holidays and the upcoming carnival. Security measures have been strengthened through the coordinated efforts of the Mohipur Police Station, the Tourist Police, and the Upazila administration.
Nazmul Ahsan, the in-charge of the Kuakata zone of the Tourist Police, mentioned that, alongside the Tourist Police, local police, and the Forest Department, surveillance by plainclothes intelligence officers has also been intensified.
Md. Arifuzzaman, UNO and Member Secretary of the Beach Management Committee, noted that the two-day beach carnival in Kuakata will feature cultural programs with performances by both local artists and renowned artists from across the country.
Local MP Alhaj ABM Mosharraf Hossain, expressed confidence that this year’s beach carnival in Kuakata will generate a great response.
