Want to Go to Saint Martin’s Island? These New Rules Are Not Optional

The government has reopened Saint Martin’s Island for travelers, but with a new set of strictly enforced, non-optional rules to protect its threatened ecosystem and endangered coral species. Daily visitors are capped at a maximum of 2,000 tourists. Overnight stays are prohibited throughout October and November, but will be permitted in January, with all tourist movement banned from February onward. For valid entry, tourists must purchase tickets online that include a Travel Pass and an official QR Code from the Bangladesh Tourism Board. New prohibitions include: creating noise or fire pollution, holding barbecue parties, using bright lights at night, harming any part of the wildlife ecosystem (including marine turtles, birds, and corals), collecting or trading corals and shells, trespassing in Keya fruit areas, and using motorized vehicles on beaches. Furthermore, a complete ban has been imposed on polythene and all single-use plastic products on the island.

Source: Based on reporting from The Daily Star