COX'S BAZAR: As many as 0.4 million tourists have arrived in Cox's Bazar to spend their holidays even though hotels and motels do not have enough room, causing immense suffering to them.
Many tourists have been spending night under the open sky for a lack of hotel accommodations. They allege that many restaurant owners are serving low-quality food at extra cost, taking advantage of the situation.
Residential hotels, motels, guesthouses and restaurants here have started doing a brisk business during the tourist season. However, owners are not complying with the rules for renting out rooms in their residential hotels.
Despite such anarchy in more than four hundred residential hotels, motels and guesthouses in Cox's Bazar, the beach management and tourist police have not taken any action in this regard. Industry people think that it has put an adverse impact on the tourism industry.
The complaints were received from tourists visiting Kalatali, a hotel-motel zone, on Friday. They allege a room is now being rented out three times higher than any time of year. Restaurants are also charging extra for low-quality food. Only pulses, rice and mashed potato cost Tk 150-Tk 200 per person.
Rafiq Azam, a resident of Dhaka, said they came from Dhaka and rented a non-AC room at Sea Sun Hotel in Kalatali area.
"The hotel authorities first demanded Tk 10,000 for renting out this room. After frequent requests, Tk 6,000 has been taken from us," he added.
At any time of year, only one thousand rupee is taken. The district administration should take tough action against these hoteliers, he said.
Another visitor Enamul Haque, who came from Jashore, said he wanted to rent a non-AC couple room at C-Park Hotel for Tk 8,000, which was available for Tk 800-Tk 1,000 at other time.
During visit to a hotel named Amari Resort, it is seen that each couple room is being rented out for Tk 8,000-10,000. The scenario is the same in more 450 hotels, motels and cottages in Cox's Bazar.
When asked, the manager of Hotel White Orchid said, "We don't have any fixed rent. Room rent is higher now. Non-AC rooms are being rented out for Tk 5,000 as tourists are crowding the beaches. After a day or two, rent will go down."
Many tourists were staying in Baliari on Thursday night with bags and luggage without getting hotel rooms at Sugandha Point on the beach. Many were seen walking to and fro for hotel rooms. Even some were being deceived by middlemen.
There are only a few public toilets in the city. Although the latrines at mosques are often used, these are locked. As a result, tourists have to defecate on the beach or any alley.
A tourist named Aminul Islam said even though he spent whole night on the sidewalk after he failed to get a room, he could not find any suitable place for defecation.
"Whenever I come to visit, I face a lot of trouble because there is no public toilet. Women are worst sufferers," he added.
The owner of Sea Gazipur Resort said many tourists are spending night on the sidewalks and beach due to an influx of tourists in Cox's Bazar.
"They are in dire straits as they do not have access to toilet. A toilet in my hotel has been opened to tourists since yesterday. Due to a lack of public toilets, people are defecating on open space behind the beach."
Cox's Bazar Tourist Police Superintendent Md Zillur Rahman said they had warned hotel and motel owners who were charging extra rent.
"If necessary, legal action will be taken against them. The tourist police have taken steps for the safety of tourists. Police are on high alert at various points along the beach to prevent harassment and untoward incidents."