Despite peak season, the picturesque lake district of Rangamati witnessed the lowest ever tourists this year.

This is a fallout of the August 17 serial bombing across the country, followed by similar stray incidents and serious security check by law enforcers, sources in Bangladesh Parjaton Corporation's (BPC) Holiday Complex and frustrated hotel and resort owners told this correspondent yesterday.

Law enforcers' often annoy the

tourists ad their attitude towards them is not always cordial, they alleged.

"Last Thursday, a businessman phoned from Dhaka requesting for two double-bed rooms but on the following night he cancelled the booking, saying the country's present situation is not favorable for recreation", said Chandan, manager of Hotel Green Castle.

Sumon Choudhury, manager of the Hotel Sophia, said the number of foreign tourists is very poor due to 'unnecessary hassle by law enforcers at different checkpoints and even in the town'.

"Sometimes, foreign guests do not agree to take any security guard, but police force them to take three to four policemen with them on the plea of insecurity. The tourists express annoyance, but we have nothing to do", he said.

Sources at the Holiday resort said they entertained over 5000 tourists last year. The figure is around half of it this year.

Sources at Hotel Sophia and Greencastle also lamented poor arrival of tourists, saying the number is far less than that of last year.

They said that the atmosphere at

Rangamati and Kaptai is not touristfriendly now. Tourists, particularly from abroad, like to enjoy amid free atmosphere and want to move freely. Besides, the spots also lack recreation facilities, they said.

Sources at Holiday Complex said people still come from nearby Chittagong and Feni districts on a day's package tour on Fridays. But such package tour from distant districts is virtually nil during the ongoing peak season, they said. If the situation continues, BPC will have to count huge loss, they said.