The scenic tourist spots of the district, which usually remain crowded with a large number of tourists from different areas during the Eid holidays, see only a few visitors this time, apparently due to the recent landslides that claimed around 150 lives in Chittagong Hill Tracts.

Meghla, Nilachal, Nilgiri, Shailo Propath, Golden Temple and other tourist spots of the district wore a deserted look even during the holidays.

Many hotels, motels and cottage owners said only 20-25 percent of their rooms were booked by tourists on the occasion of the Eid vacation.

“Tourism business in the district has been badly hit by recent landslides,” said Md Sirajul Islam, owner of Green Hill Hotel, also secretary of residential hotel owners association in the district.

“Recent landslide in hills seriously affected our tourism business as most of the tourists lost their interest to visit the hill areas after many lives were lost in the disaster in Chittagong Hill Tracts,” he added.

At the entrance of Meghla Parjatan Complex, ticket seller Sukumar Tanchangya said, “We are going through a very tough time. Only 402 tickets have been sold till 11:20am from the morning. Last year, more than three thousand tickets were sold in the few hours.”

“I could sell textile items worth Tk 2000-2500 daily at our shop in these Eid holidays whereas it was around Tk 8000-10000 a day last year,” said Nu May Prue Marma, a salesperson at Burmese market in the district.

“Poor presence of visitors in the district has made us frustrated this season. People are not coming from distant areas fearing more landslides in hills,” said Amol Das, president of District Hotel Owners Association.

“Although the number of tourists has gone down considerably this season, we hope it will not affect the tourism business of the district in the long run,” said Hossain Muhammad Al Mujaheed, nejarat deputy collector of Bandarban.