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Environment, Forest and Climate Change Minister Abdul Awal Mintoo today said the duration of tourism, the number of tourists, and the departure points for tourist vessels for Saint Martin's Island will be reviewed.
Future decisions regarding this matter will be made after considering the conservation of the island's environment and biodiversity, tourist safety, and transportation management, the minister said while presiding over an inter-ministerial meeting on tourist visits to Saint Martin's Island at the Secretariat here.
State Minister for Environment Shaikh Faridul Islam, lawmaker for Cox's Bazar-4 Shahjahan Chowdhury, and Dhaka-14 MP Mir Ahmad Bin Quasem were present at the meeting.
Mintoo emphasised that tourism activities must be conducted while conserving Saint Martin's natural environment and biodiversity.
He noted the need to consider the island's carrying capacity, waste management, availability of potable water, and the impact of tourism on the marine ecosystem.
Tourism management aspects will undergo further review based on the opinions of relevant ministries and agencies, he said.
Faridul Islam emphasised the purchase of travel passes and QR-coded tickets through web portals recognised by the Bangladesh Tourism Board, as well as adherence to environmental conservation guidelines.
He also stressed the importance of stopping carrying banned polythene to the island, discouraging the use of single-use plastics, and encouraging tourists to carry their own water flasks.
The meeting included discussions on regulating tourist visits and stays on Saint Martin's Island during the 2026–2027 tourism season, conserving the environment and biodiversity, and ensuring tourist safety.
The meeting prioritised discussions on reconsidering the tourism timeframe, daily tourist numbers, and the departure points for tourist vessels.
Existing guidelines for regulating tourism were also reviewed. According to the notification issued on October 22, 2025, tourists visiting Saint Martin's Island in November must return on the same day and are not permitted to stay overnight. Overnight stays are allowed during December and January. The average daily number of tourists is capped at 2,000, and tourist travel is suspended in February. A final decision will be announced after these provisions are reconsidered.
The meeting was attended by Dr. Fahmida Khanam, Acting Secretary of the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change; Mohammad Navid Shafiullah, Additional Secretary; Commodore Md. Shafiul Bari, Director General of the Department of Shipping; along with representatives from relevant ministries, departments, agencies, tourism businesses, and environmental organizations.
Representatives from the local administration and tourism sector also participated in the meeting.
