Saint Martin’s tourism rules, visitor limits to be reviewed: Minister

The government will reconsider the tourism season, daily visitor limit and departure points for tourist vessels to Saint Martin’s Island, Environment, Forest and Climate Change Minister Abdul Awal Mintoo said on Monday.

He said future decisions would take into account the island’s fragile environment and biodiversity, tourist safety and transport management.

The minister made the remarks while chairing an inter-ministerial meeting on tourist visits to the island at the conference room of the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change at the Bangladesh Secretariat.

The meeting reviewed tourism management arrangements for the 2026-27 season, including visitor movement and overnight stays, environmental protection and tourist safety.

Mintoo said tourism must be conducted without damaging the island’s natural environment and biodiversity. He stressed the need to consider the island’s carrying capacity, waste management, availability of safe drinking water and the impact of tourism on the marine ecosystem.

He said tourism management measures would be reviewed further based on the opinions of the relevant ministries and agencies.

State Minister for Environment, Forest and Climate Change Sheikh Faridul Islam stressed the use of travel passes and QR - code - enabled tickets purchased through a Bangladesh Tourism Board - recognised web portal.

He also called for compliance with environmental protection guidelines, discouraging visitors from carrying single use plastics and banning polythene on the island. He urged tourists to carry their own water flasks.

The meeting reviewed the existing restrictions under a notification issued on 22 October 2025.

Under the current rules, tourists can visit St Martin’s during the daytime in November but must return the same day, with overnight stays prohibited. Overnight stays are allowed in December and January, while the average number of visitors is capped at 2,000 a day. Tourist visits remain suspended throughout February.

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The meeting discussed reconsidering these provisions, with further decisions to be announced later.

Existing restrictions aimed at protecting marine turtles, birds, coral and other biodiversity on the island will remain in force.

The restrictions prohibit lighting, noise and barbecue parties on the beach and adjacent areas at night. Entry into casuarina and other designated coastal vegetation areas, as well as collecting, buying or selling casuarina fruits, is also prohibited. Motorcycles and similar vehicles are barred from the beach.

State Minister Sheikh Faridul Islam, Cox’s Bazar-4 MP Shahjahan Chowdhury and Dhaka-14 MP Mir Ahmad Bin Quasem attended the meeting.

Acting Secretary of the ministry Fahmida Khanam, Additional Secretary Mohammad Navid Shafiullah, Department of Shipping Director General Commodore Md Shafiul Bari, representatives of relevant ministries and agencies, tourism businesses and environmental organisations were also present. Representatives of the local administration and tourism businesses joined the meeting online.