Govt mulling online reg for St Martin's tourists

The government is mulling an online registration system for tourists willing to travel to Saint Martin's Island, in an effort to conserve biodiversity of the unique island.

The Directorate of Environment has come up with the plan which is now in primary stage, but they expect to begin the registration system by the end of the year. A software will be developed soon as part of the plan.

Dr Sultan Ahmed, director general of DoE told The Daily Star that they finalised a work plan for the project.

The software will be developed to ensure that only tourists who had registered in advance can come to the island, he added.

"We have submitted it [the work plan] to the concerned ministries. There will be a meeting soon at the PMO (Prime Minister Office) where things will be approved," he said.

DoE is also planning to impose a minimal fee, and to allow only 1,250 tourists per day. At least 4,000 tourists come to the island every day.

DoE said people all over the world willing to visit the island will be able to confirm their registration online.

The software will automatically cease to accept registrations once the specific numbers of registrations for the day is reached.

Dr Sultan said biodiversity of the island was in extreme peril, due to lack of awareness of tourists who most often tend to litter the island with waste.

“That is why we also plan to set up an information centre in the island, to raise awareness among tourists of the unique biodiversity of the area," he added.

Tourists will also be given a to-do list, on how to save the ecology and environment of the island, he said.