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Domestic tourism to feed on long holidays

Sayeda Akter
For most of Ramadan, Khurshid Alam Suman has been planning a trip to Srimangal with family and friends for the long holidays.
“If people want to get away from the humdrum of everyday lives, it is economical to travel within the country,” Suman said, adding that he and his wife try to save up enough to fund a trip every year.
This year, he booked two cottages — atTk 1,700 and Tk 1,000 per night -- at the Nishorgo Eco Resort for four nights.
Suman, a merchandiser at a multinational company, how-
ever, is not alone in seeking a quiet getaway during Eid, the country's biggest religious festival, with the number of domestic tourists during this period growing every year.
This year, people will get a vacation stretching 10 days --ideal for a mini break outside the city. And all the hotels, motels, resorts, guesthouses arc fully prepared to handle the rush of visitors.
Thanks to its beach and hillocks, Cox's Bazar looks to be the destination of choice once again, with most of its hotels and resorts having been fully booked in advance, according to industry insiders.
Motel Shoibal, the biggest
motel of Bangladesh Parjatan Corporation in Cox's Bazar, is completely booked for the four days following Eid.
“We are fully booked because of the long Eid holiday. Many of our guests will enjoy their Eid here, but the majority of occupants will reach after the Eid day,” said Sujit Barua, general manager of the motel.
The tourist flow, mainly 'family vacationers' like Suman, will continue for 8-10 days after Eid, according to Barua.
However, he mentioned rough weather, which may spoil the holidays for beach lovers to some extent.
There are around 200 hotels, motels and guesthouses in Cox's
Bazar, ranging from five-star to budget accommodation.
Seagull, a five-star hotel in Cox's Bazar, is fully booked for the entire week after Eid, said Masud Rabbani, the hotel's manager-in-charge.
Besides Cox's Bazar, Tangail, Sylhet, Rangamati, Kuakata, Bandarban and St Martin's Island are also popular among the domestic travellers.
For travellers wanting to be near the city and still have a quiet time-off, there are resorts near Tangail.
ANM Shahjahan, project manager of the Jamuna Resort near Tangail, said the occupancy at the 110-room resort is full until August 25, with the bulk of the crowd arriving after the Eid day.
“We provide accommodations with leisure activities such as swimming, football, cricket, tennis, boating, cinema and picnics,” he said.
A two day-one night stay at the resort costs Tk 4,200, and Tk 7,500 for three days-two nights, said Shahjahan.
The package includes a welcome drink, mineral water at room, fruit basket, buffet breakfast, lunch and dinner, swimming pool use, entry to Riverside Park and Ananda Park.
Padma Resort on the banks the Padma river, where a night's stay at one of the 16 cottages costTk 3,500, has had an 100 percent advance booking as well.
“The occupancy is full for four days after the Eid day,” said Mohammad Ali, owner of the resort.
Apart from the sea and riverside getaways, hilly Sylhet, too, has also been attracting a good number of tourists, like Suman and his loved ones.
Nazim Gahr, built on a hillock in Sylhet, is already full from August 21 to the end of the month, said Nazim Farhan Choudhury7, owner of the resort.
A night's stay at one of the resort’s 50 rooms costTk 8,000, he said.
The amenities, however, have not developed in line with the demand and accommodation facilities, many travellers complained.
“We wanted to start on August 21,
but could not manage train's tickets. So with a two years-old child we just could not be desperate backpackers,” Suman said.
Industry insiders estimate that around five lakh people travel inside the country a year, which is growing at an annual rate of 15 percent.
In 2011, the travel and tourism sector accounted for Tk 18,250 crore, or 2.2 percent, of Bangladesh's gross domestic product, the World Travel and Tourism Council said in a report.