Tourist travel to Bangladesh’s only coral-rich island, Saint Martin, has been suspended for nine months following a government decision. The Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change ended the current tourism season last Saturday, and from Sunday, no tourist vessels are allowed to operate to the island. Authorities said the restriction aims to preserve the island’s fragile environmental balance, limiting tourist access to only three months each year.

Typically, tourists are permitted to visit Saint Martin from October 1 to March 31, but this year the period was shortened to January 31 due to environmental risks. Cox’s Bazar Additional Deputy Commissioner Imran Hossain Sajib confirmed that Saturday marked the last day for tourist ships to travel to the island. He added that future changes would depend on government decisions.

Saint Martin Union Parishad Chairman Foyezul Islam expressed concern that most island residents depend on tourism for their livelihood. He said the extended closure has caused disappointment among locals and suggested that a longer tourist season would help them sustain their income.