The platform features government guidelines, transport links, and over 200 hotels and homestays to support local tourism
File Photo: Rashed Kabir, Unplash
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File Photo: Rashed Kabir, Unplash
All tourism-related information on Saint Martin’s island, the country’s only coral island, is now available on a single website launched under the personal initiative of the Teknaf Upazila Nirbahi Officer (UNO).
The website, mysaintmartinbd.com, launched on Tuesday (4 November), offers complete information on travelling to St Martin’s — including answers to frequently asked questions, transportation details, accommodation options, and government guidelines for visiting the island.
It also includes listings of local residents who rent out their homes or guest rooms to tourists, with names, contact numbers, and rental rates. In addition, the site features information about hotels and resorts on the island.
According to government directives, tourists are only permitted to stay overnight on the island during December and January. Throughout the rest of the year, various government, private, and research personnel travel to Saint Martin’s for official work and often face complications in obtaining entry permissions. The new website has introduced an online approval system to resolve these difficulties.
Upazila Nirbani Offcer (UNO) Sk Ahsan Uddin said that, as per government policy, overnight stays are prohibited in November. “Like previous years, tourist ships will operate between Cox’s Bazar and St Martin’s in December and January, and overnight stays will be allowed during this period,” he said.
Boosting local livelihoods
Sk Ahsan Uddin further added that as the two-month tourism window limits the earning opportunities of island residents, the government has disbursed Tk57 lakh from the Bangladesh Climate Change Trust Fund (BCCTF) to 500 families verified by Brac via bKash to support them.
However, locals said their income from house rentals has declined, prompting Sk Ahsan to create the website as part of a community tourism concept.
“During the limited tourism season, small local hotels and guest houses are overshadowed by luxury resorts,” said Ahsan.
“To address this, the upazila administration has included more than 100 local homes and small hotels on the website so that tourists can book rooms directly from island residents. This will let visitors experience local life at affordable costs while helping improve the livelihoods of the community,” Ahsan added.
He said the initiative has been named “Home Stay”, reflecting the spirit of community-based tourism.
“If we all promote this concept, it can play a significant role in supporting the livelihood of St Martin’s residents,” he added.
Fast approval for non-tourists
The UNO also explained that the online approval system has been designed for non-tourism visitors – including those travelling for official, private, or research purposes — who previously faced long and cumbersome approval processes.
“Now, anyone can apply online stating the purpose of travel, and download the approval within 24 hours directly from their mobile phone,” he said. “However, this approval is not applicable for tourists, who must follow government notifications for visiting the island.”
The website also provides detailed information on the island’s attractions, ship ticket links, sightseeing locations, schedules, rental rates, important contact numbers, government circulars, and details of more than 200 hotels and home-stay facilities.
In addition, visitors can find contact numbers for the upazila administration, police, hospital, and union parishad chairmen, as well as the names and phone numbers of beach workers appointed by the local administration for different areas of the island.