Published on
September 16, 2025
In 2016, the Bangladesh Economic Zones Authority (Beza) launched an ambitious initiative aimed at creating three tourism parks in the scenic coastal regions of Cox’s Bazar. The grand vision was to develop nearly 11,000 acres of land in Teknaf and Maheshkhali upazilas for eco-friendly and tourist-centered developments. However, almost a decade later, only one of these parks remains in progress, and none are fully operational. The dream of creating a thriving tourism hub faces ongoing hurdles, with numerous delays, environmental concerns, and a lack of investor interest.
The Vision: Three Tourism Parks in Cox’s Bazar
Originally, Beza envisioned three distinct tourism parks: Sabrang Tourism Park in Teknaf, covering 967 acres of land; Naf Tourism Park, situated on 271 acres near the Naf River, also in Teknaf; and the Sonadia Eco-tourism Park, sprawling across 9,467 acres in Maheshkhali. These parks were expected to boost tourism in Bangladesh by offering unique attractions, including hotels, resorts, eco-cottages, and entertainment facilities. However, the progress has been far from smooth.
Sonadia Eco-tourism Park: Cancelled for Environmental Reasons
The Sonadia Eco-tourism Park project has faced its most significant setback. The government cancelled the park’s development due to environmental concerns. The area, which had been earmarked for tourism development, was deemed crucial for biodiversity conservation, and the need for its preservation took precedence over development. Consequently, the land lease was revoked by Beza, halting any further plans for this park.
Naf Tourism Park: A Struggle to Attract Investors
The Naf Tourism Park was initially hoped to be a prime location for hotels, eco-cottages, a cable car, and various entertainment facilities, including an underwater restaurant and a floating jetty. However, attracting private developers to invest in this park has proven difficult. In 2024, Beza sought expressions of interest for a public-private partnership (PPP) to develop the park, but no companies showed any interest in taking part. The park’s location near the Myanmar border raised concerns over security, further deterring potential investors.
According to Beza officials, the park’s master plan, approved in 2020, includes ambitious features, such as a children’s park, a marine aquarium, and sea cruises. Yet, despite its appealing proposal, the lack of interest from private companies highlights the challenges of undertaking large-scale tourism developments in areas perceived as less secure.
Sabrang Tourism Park: Progress But Slow Development
Among the three planned parks, Sabrang Tourism Park stands out as the most advanced project, although it too faces its own significant delays. Located in the Teknaf region, Sabrang is seen as a potential flagship destination for the country’s tourism sector. It promises the construction of a five-star hotel, eco-tourism facilities, and even special travel arrangements to Saint Martin’s Island. Despite this, progress has been slow due to incomplete infrastructure development, which has stalled hotel and resort construction.
Beza has allocated land to 28 investors across nearly 120 acres for hotel construction, with investment proposals worth approximately $460 million. However, representatives from the companies involved have claimed that they cannot begin their projects due to the lack of necessary infrastructure. Furthermore, recent tidal surges and adverse weather conditions have damaged the protective embankment at Sabrang, creating additional challenges. In response, Beza is conducting a new analysis to develop a sustainable solution for preventing coastal erosion.
Challenges in Infrastructure and Priorities
Despite the ambition to create a world-class tourist destination, the development of Sabrang remains a secondary priority for Beza. Currently, the authority is focused on five economic zones, which are slated for completion within the next two years. The zones include Mirsharai’s National Special Economic Zone (NSEZ), the Srihatta Economic Zone, Jamalpur Economic Zone, the Maheshkhali Economic Zone, and the Bangladesh Special Economic Zone. These projects are considered essential for the country’s economic growth, and their completion is expected to come before any major developments at Sabrang.
Beza officials have indicated that once these zones are well-established, attention will shift back to the development of the tourism parks, including Sabrang. They emphasize that infrastructure development at Sabrang must be carried out sustainably, with long-term environmental considerations in mind.
The Economic Impact of Tourism
Despite these ongoing challenges, many in the tourism sector argue that Bangladesh’s natural beauty—rivers, sea, hills, forests, culture, and hospitality—offers immense potential for attracting international tourists. However, Bangladesh remains far behind its neighboring countries in terms of foreign tourism, largely due to poor implementation of tourism projects and continued delays in the development of infrastructure.
Mohiuddin Helal, a director at the Bangladesh Parjatan Corporation and an editor of Parjatan Bichitra, has pointed out that dedicated tourism parks, such as those envisioned by Beza, could significantly boost foreign tourism and local economies. He believes that such projects should be given higher priority, as they promise substantial economic benefits through job creation and the growth of the hospitality industry.
A Long Road to Development
Ultimately, the story of Bangladesh’s tourism parks is one of unrealized potential and ongoing challenges. While the country’s scenic beauty and cultural heritage offer tremendous opportunities for tourism, the success of these parks depends on overcoming a series of obstacles—ranging from environmental concerns to slow infrastructure development and security issues. Until these challenges are addressed, the vision of a thriving tourism sector remains just that—an ambitious dream.
As Beza continues to focus on other economic zones, the future of Sabrang, Naf, and Sonadia tourism parks remains uncertain. Until then, stakeholders in the tourism industry are urging the government to prioritize the completion of these projects and recognize their potential to drive economic growth in Bangladesh.
