Sundarbans tourism in disarray

Both domestic and international tourism have great potential as major income sources for Bangladesh. Tourism can be particularly vital in key regional areas. But in the high-profile Sundarbans, tourism revenue is sharply down. The number of international visitors has fallen significantly over the last several years, with the rise in domestic visitors unable to make up the revenue shortfall.

In the 2012-13 fiscal year, the total number of domestic and foreign visitors to the Sundarbans was over 1.16 lakh. The number of visitors declined to 75,742 the following year. Although in overall numbers there has since been an increase to more than 1.22 lakh visitors in the 2016-17 fiscal year, the rise is not reflected in revenue. That is because the number of international tourists, who have to pay more to visit the Sundarbans and thus bring greater economic benefit, has continued to fall.

Even with the rise in domestic visitors, total tourism sector revenue over the five-year period is about Tk 1 crore less than it would have been if 2012-13 results had been maintained. Indeed, even based on visitor numbers alone growth in the last five years is close to stagnant.

“There is a lack of infrastructure,” says Azad Kabir, station officer at the Karamjol Wild Animal Breeding Centre of East Sundarbans. “The number of foreign tourists is decreasing day by day. They are losing interest in the Sundarbans and it has caused a huge revenue loss for the forest department.” “There is no project to attract tourists,” he continues, “or to provide security. Tourism revenue looks set to continue to decline alarmingly. It's not good news for the Sundarbans because after fish, wood and honey combined, tourism constitutes the second largest revenue source.”

According to Satyajit Saha, from the Sundarbans East Forest Division's revenue department, annual tourism earnings amounted to more than Tk 1.03 crore in the 2012-13 year, but only around Tk 82.6 lakh by 2016-17. Results from the intervening years are similarly low. Even from among the growing number of domestic tourists to the Sundarbans, many leave with a mixed impression of the tourism experience.

“After visiting the forest people need to wash their hands and feet and take rest somewhere,” says one visitor, Rumman Sheikh from Nilphamari, “but there aren't adequate facilities for this and suitable accommodation is also a problem. Neither the picnic corner leased by the Mongla Port Authority nor the adjoining forest department accommodation is always available.” “There are no permanent ghats from which to board the trawlers when travelling to Karamjol to Harbariya,” says another tourist in Bagerhat's Jakariya, Jannatul Ferdous from Noakhali. “The owners and staff of the trawlers often harassed us, forcing us to get on and off their boats in a hurry. The way they do it must cause mishaps now and then, particularly for children and senior citizens.”

“We had neither guards for security nor a guide for our visit to the Sundarbans,” says Mahasin Molla from Rajshahi. “The forest department asked for a separate amount of money for guards and we couldn't afford it. So when we entered the forest we were afraid.” “We all enjoyed the beauty of the Sundarbans but some people on the tour fainted,” says visitor Mithun from Jhenidah. “There weren't enough places to rest. It wasn't a relaxed experience.”

Khulna Range Forest Conservator Amir Hossain Chowdhury, however, refutes that forest department officials harass tourists. “It is true though, that we don't have sufficient tourist infrastructure,” he says. “When we have an adequate budget certainly tourist areas may be better developed and modernised. We do try with heart and soul to serve the tourists.”